The Black Ohio State of At A Crossroads on the Pathway to Opportunity March 2010 john powell KIRWAN INSTITUTE Executive Director Andrew Grant-Thomas FOR THE STUDY OF RACE AND ETHNICITY Deputy Director THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY MARCH 17, 2010 john powell Executive Director, The Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race & Ethnicity Andrew Grant-Thomas, Ph.D. Deputy Director, The Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race & Ethnicity Jason Reece, AICP Senior Researcher, The Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race & Ethnicity Christy Rogers Senior Research Associate, The Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race & Ethnicity Rebecca Reno Senior Research Associate, The Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race & Ethnicity Ming Trammell Ph.D., Senior Researcher, The Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race & Ethnicity Samir Gambhir Senior Research Associate, The Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race & Ethnicity Matthew Martin GIS/Planning Specialist, The Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race & Ethnicity Cheryl Staats Research Associate, The Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race & Ethnicity Angela Stanley Research Associate, The Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race & Ethnicity Jillian Olinger Graduate Research Associate, The Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race & Ethnicity Kwabena Agyeman Graduate Research Associate, The Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race & Ethnicity Chauncey Robbs Graduate Research Associate, The Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race & Ethnicity Brandon Moss Graduate Research Associate, The Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race & Ethnicity Yusuf Sarfati Graduate Research Associate, The Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race & Ethnicity Michele Battle-Fisher Graduate Research Associate, The Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race & Ethnicity Valerie Wright Graduate Research Associate, Criminal Justice Research Center, The Ohio State University Mark Harris Graduate Research Associate, The Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race & Ethnicity Craig Ratchford GIS/Demographic Analyst, The Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race & Ethnicity For more information about this research initiative please contact Andrew Grant-Thomas (Grant- [email protected]) or Jason Reece ([email protected]) at The Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race & Ethnicity at The Ohio State University. Ohio State Senator Ray Miller Sam Gresham The Ohio Commission on African American Males We extend a sincere thank you to respondents who contributed their time and insight to our team of interviewers. 2 Section I Introduction and Executive Summary STATE OF BLACK OHIO The following is a summary assessment of the 2009 “State of Black Ohio.” The report assesses conditions in Ohio for African American communities. The report is based on quantitative and qualitative research, including a review of the critical indicators of health for Ohio and for its Black communities; a statewide opportunity mapping analysis; in-depth review of recent research on key issues; and, approximately 100 in-depth stakeholder interviews. The report closes with an overview of recommendations for improving access to opportunity for all Ohioans, including Ohio’s diverse African American communities. Why a State of Black Ohio? This report, just released after the election of President Obama, speaks to the continued progress of our nation towards opening the doors of opportunity to all. Ohio’s African American community has seen tremendous achievement in recent decades. Political development, educational and business success, as well as the emergence of a strong Black middle and upper class of Ohio’s Black community, highlight a few of these accomplishments. Consider 1970: only 1,400 Black elected officials (local, state and federal) existed in the entire nation. By 2001, Ohio alone had more than 300 local, state and federal Black elected officials.1 By 2009, four of the six largest cities in the State had African American mayors. In 1970, only 10% of Ohio’s Black population had attended college, and only 3.9% of Black Ohioans had attended college for four years. By 1990, 14% of Black Ohioans earned a college degree; by 2007, this figure increased to 21%.2 High school graduation rates for Ohio’s Black students increased from 62% in 1995 to 71% in 2006.3 Between 1992 and 2002, the number of Black owned businesses in Ohio increased by 57% and sales for Black owned businesses increased by 61% (in inflation-adjusted 2002 dollars). Despite these tremendous achievements, pockets of isolated communities still face significant impediments in their attempts to access opportunity and advancement. For Ohio’s Black community, many urban, inner-city communities of color are highly marginalized. Residents in these communities face extreme barriers to opportunity, from failing schools and limited economic options, to unhealthy environments, disinvestment and unstable housing. Our analysis across the State of Ohio found nearly 3 out of 4 Black Ohioans were living in the State’s most disadvantaged neighborhoods (what we term “low opportunity neighborhoods”), compared to 1 in 2 Latinos and 1 in 4 Asians and Whites. Families living in these communities face daunting odds. Individuals who transcend these barriers must make tremendous efforts to escape cycles of poverty and marginalization, in addition to having to overcome lingering interpersonal racial biases. Unfortunately, these barriers prove insurmountable for too many, trapping many Black Ohioans in poverty and limiting the future for too many of our Black families and children. These structural and institutional barriers to opportunity must be removed if we hope for Ohio’s Black community to continue to flourish, succeed and contribute to Ohio’s future and vitality. Therefore, despite diminished interpersonal racial bias and the removal of legal tools of segregation, our nation and Ohio have still not entered a “post-racial” period as many hopeful commentators have speculated. African Americans (among other communities of color and poor whites) continue to face a number of systemic institutional and structural challenges which continue to marginalize entire communities. While we should celebrate the Civil Rights victories of the past and achievements for Ohio’s Black citizens at present, we must also not forget about the many who still continue facing tremendous barriers to opportunity. 3 MARCH 17, 2010 What is “Black Ohio?” This report is a call to all Ohioans – White, Black, Latino, Asian, Somali, young, old, rich, poor, lifelong resident, recent transplant – to have a stake in Black Ohio, knowing that Black Ohio is Our Ohio. But what, or who, is “Black Ohio?” We interviewed approximately one hundred stakeholders on the strengths, overall assessment, diversity and uniqueness of the African American experience in Ohio to probe its warp and weft. Perhaps we can begin with the recognition that there is not simply one Black Ohio; there are many diverse African American people, communities, trajectories, and perspectives across the State: “That’s one of the challenges, sometimes the leadership of the African American community is asked to give the “African American perspective” and sometimes I have to stop and say I can speak on my behalf, but it’s inaccurate to think I could give insight on behalf of the community because we are so diverse: in religion, in where we grew up, in our political views. We are as diverse as other groups. In education, in economic status, it’s all across the board.” *** “How you came to Ohio, in terms of roots and history. In southern Ohio, people think there aren’t many African Americans there, but these communities were the entrance points for slaves, free or escaped; the Underground came through southeast Ohio…Another group are the mill workers. Another group came for education, especially to Columbus; the university has fueled black leadership in the city and the state. [There is a] diversity in terms of how one came to Ohio, their experience and pathways. The Tuskegee airmen stationed in Columbus brought talent…” *** “Immigrant populations also contribute to this diversity, such as the Somalis. Whether they see themselves as part of the African American community or whether they see themselves as part of a Diaspora community depends.” While respondents were quick to point out the diversity of experiences and geography, including the wide range of places to live and work across Ohio – from a small, rural southern town to a northern industrial city – the majority of respondents expressed pride in Ohio’s history: in the role of African American’s place within it, in various African American achievements and opportunities, and in Ohio’s Midwestern culture. “The history of the State, in the abolitionist movement and Underground Railroad, has bright spots certainly worth celebrating. There are unique aspects in terms of the history of communities: Yellow Springs, Oberlin, a long history of being more open and encouraging intellectual, artistic, and political expression by African American folk. From Paul L. Dunbar, Coretta Scott King, (to) Central State, Wilberforce University, (there are) wonderful chapters in the history of African American folks that have strong Ohio ties.” *** “Ohio was a retreat point for African Americans who were fleeing the South; this makes Ohio unique. Many people fled to Ohio from West Virginia, Indiana, and other places. African American communities also flourish in Ohio. So Ohio has been good for us.” *** 4 STATE OF BLACK OHIO “I think in Ohio there is tremendous opportunity for social, economic, and educational growth…I have friends in other places, Atlanta, etc., and they are amazed at the positions that African Americans hold in business and political arenas…this is very unique.” *** “There is more hope in Ohio than in some other places, basing this on my own experience. I have relatives that have moved, from the Carolinas, into Ohio or the Midwest, and have been able to have a better life.” When asked about overall conditions for African Americans in Ohio, respondents often used similar metaphors, all of which spoke to a sense of divergence: (a) two worlds diverging across class and education lines; (b) a gap between potential and actual growth and improvement; (c) divergence across outcomes – in other words, progress in some areas, but not in others; and (d) being at a crossroads, in terms of timing, resources, and momentum required to make great strides; but also in terms of being threatened by economic uncertainty, statewide job loss, and by public health, education, and criminal justice inequalities. “I believe the State is staring at the crossroads: one path has opportunities with advancement…and the other is more of the status quo, where folks are falling behind.” All of these conditions – a divide between rich and poor, between potentiality and actuality, of uneven outcomes, and a sense of being poised for change – can resonate with all Ohioans and all Americans. If there are those in Ohio not able to reach their full potential, our state will not be as strong, sustainable, and attractive to residents and businesses as it could be. To succeed in the 21st century, we need to spur innovation, growth, and creativity. Ohio cannot afford to ignore the institutional and structural challenges which marginalize residents if it hopes to cultivate the skills of its most important asset for its future – its people. Removing any remaining institutional and structural barriers which marginalize communities of color will benefit all Ohioans and will lead us toward a path of prosperity, sustainability and vitality in the future. Many respondents felt that a unified agenda could move all Ohioans forward: “I don’t think we are aggressive enough about putting together long-term strategies … at the end of the day, I feel motivated about the opportunity in front of us—I’ve always felt good and worked to change, but feel like right now leadership is so important, and we have that leader in D.C.—if he can encourage and be a leader for other leaders, on Wall street, our mayors, and around the world…if we all follow his model, it would improve the quality of life for everyone…” The growth of a strong African American middle class and the development of locally and nationally recognized African American leaders – in business, non-profits, education, and political office – speak to Ohio’s successes in affirmatively embracing diversity and opportunity for all. However, there are significant challenges facing African-American Ohioans. As many interviewees commented, educational achievement, wellness, and economic advancement are not as robust as they could be for many African Americans across the State: “Graduation rates and college matriculation are troublesome. The decline of the public school system is incredible. Because of this educational decline, individuals are experiencing a decreased earning and income potential; this then limits housing options.” *** 5 MARCH 17, 2010 “This is a sad situation…when you look at cancer incidence, African American men have the highest rates in any group studied, both in Ohio and the nation…for mortality, in Ohio and the nation, African American men and women lead the way. So we have a lot of work to do.” *** “We’re doing worse than five years ago because of the downturn of the Ohio economy—because Ohio is primarily manufacturing, a lot of the African Americans work in this sector, and so folks are worse off. Coupled with the meltdown of the housing market, folks in general are worse off because of a lack of income and subprime mortgages coming to bear.” *** “At one time, we had nineteen corporations where people would come from far away to work in the factories here, but in the last ten years, the corporations have closed or are in the process of closing or moving out.” These observations and the data we have analyzed indicate that there are grave conditions for many African Americans which threaten to entrap families in generational poverty and imperil the State of Ohio’s future. Ohio, like many of its peer states in the Midwest, faces a tremendous economic reorganization, dislocation, and change. Rising unemployment, catastrophic foreclosures, stagnant job growth, municipal budget deficits and rising poverty rates have created great hardships throughout the Rust Belt. However, this devastation is uneven. The brunt of unemployment, layoffs, social service and education budget cuts, foreclosures, and bankruptcies will most likely be borne by groups already marginalized by the mainstream economy: people of color, women, manufacturing employees, rural residents, people with disabilities, among others. For example, United for a Fair Economy found that although the U.S. has been in a recession for more than a year, people of color have been in a recession for nearly five years, having entered a depression during the current economic crisis. Between 2000 and 2007, median black family incomes dropped 1.0% for all families -- the overall decline is the first in a business cycle of this length since WWII. To cite just a few Ohio statistics, poverty rates for Ohio’s Black community have increased from 26.5% in 2000 to 30.9% in 2007. HIV/AIDS rates for Black Ohioans have been increasing since 2002. In 2005, approximately two out of three homicide victims in Ohio were African American.4 Foreclosures are disproportionately devastating African American neighborhoods, a result of subprime and predatory lending practices. Ohio leaders have a chance to mitigate the harm of the economic recession and rebuild from the neighborhood, bottom up. As we rebuild the economy, we have to do it in a way that is consistent with American values, open and fair to all populations. Policy makers must recognize that “universal” policies alone fail to acknowledge how people are differently situated. In fact, treating people who are situated differently as if they were able to access the benefits of “universal” policies equally can lead to greater inequities. In contrast to a universal approach, we advocate a “targeted universal” approach: the needs of the particular are uplifted with the recognition that we are all part of the same social fabric. Targeted universal policies are inclusive, yet sensitive to the reality that the labor market and other aspects of our lives are unevenly segmented. A targeted approach takes everyone’s situated unevenness into consideration, as well as the condition of the most marginalized.5 What are the top priorities to improve opportunity for all Ohioans, including Ohio’s black residents, workers, students, parents, and children? The full report contains dozens of recommendations for improving conditions for Black Ohio and expanding opportunity for all of Ohio’s residents. These policy responses originate in various domains including education, housing, community development, public 6 STATE OF BLACK OHIO health, safety, and criminal justice reform. The diversity in responses speaks to the need for a true systemic and multidisciplinary approach. We can no longer afford to think in silos, having piecemeal and uncoordinated efforts to address the challenges facing Ohio’s Black community. Complex systemic problems require strategic and comprehensive responses. We must affirmatively and deliberately craft policies and initiatives that are strategic, coordinated and supportive of the four principles below. 1. Provide access to neighborhoods of high opportunity for all Ohioans. 2. Ensure that all Ohioans have access to high-quality public services and opportunity structures, beginning with core strengthening services: education and health care. 3. Make all Ohioans and Ohio businesses competitive in the 21st century economy. 4. Define a common agenda and strategic plan for strengthening Black Ohio, along with a communications plan that shows why this strengthens Ohio for everyone. The Road Map for This Report: The following report provides an overview of interview findings, topical research (e.g. education), descriptive data and other indicators for Ohio’s African American Community. provides an overview of results from our stakeholder interviews conducted throughout the State. Approximately 100 interviews were held with stakeholders from various domains. The interviews provide a qualitative assessment of conditions for the African American community in Ohio. provides quantitative analysis of the health of Ohio’s Black community. to assess particular focus areas, including: economic empowerment, education, gender issues and disparities, immigration impacts, neighborhoods and housing, political empowerment and leadership, public health, and public safety and criminal justice issues. Each focus area concludes with policy recommendations. concludes by providing recommendations on moving forward and developing a strategic response to the systemic challenges facing Ohio’s Black community. Where Can I Find More Information? To access the full report, please visit www.kirwaninstitute.org. 7 Section II Interview Findings from Stakeholders MARCH 17, 2010 The following provides summary findings from close to 100 stakeholder interviews held with scholars, policymakers, community leaders, business leaders, advocates, non-profit and philanthropic leaders and other stakeholders with extensive experience working in or on issues pertinent to Ohio’s Black community. Each question is listed as it was asked in the interview. Have you had a chance to review the letter describing the study? Do you have any questions? May we list you in the acknowledgements as an interviewee? See list in appendix of interviewees. How would you assess conditions for African Americans in Ohio (or the State of Black Ohio) today? There was a general consensus among interviewees that although a number of individuals have achieved extraordinary successes, the current condition of many families in the community is bleak. As one person summed up the situation, “I believe the State is staring at a crossroads.” Interviewees pointed to the need to increase educational attainment, bring down high unemployment rates, and intercede into intergenerational poverty. Some respondents felt that continued discrimination in housing in some parts of the State contributed to continued segregation within and among some school districts, retreating levels of civic engagement, and disparity in health outcomes. Further, interviewees expressed deep concern for the cycle of crime and disproportionate incarceration rates represented among African American males. It was also noted that the economic recession is having a particularly exacerbating effect on African American communities: “We’re clearly progressing, all things considered. A lot of things are better now than a decade (or three or four) ago. However, some of the things that are really bad are getting worse. So I’m not sure how you want to unpack all that.” What’s getting worse? The gap between upper/middle and lower classes is getting broader. The issues and circumstances cultivating the culture of poverty and the disfranchisement of those folks are getting worse. Some folks are intractably mired in that. That is both systemic and attitudinal, but it has gotten worse for that end of the socio-economic continuum; worse than even 20 years ago. What has improved? “There are greater numbers of African Americans making good incomes; we have more political and corporate African American leadership.” *** “Highly mixed—for middle income African Americans with skills outside the central city school districts, it’s probably about the same *as+ for any other Ohioan; for those that live in isolated, distressed regions of the State, this is a very tough time. For all Ohioans that are unskilled, semi- skilled and illiterate, it’s a disaster. It is part economic, but also look at where the mortgage crisis is taking place…looking at the intersection of race and opportunity is where it lies…African Americans without skills and locked into isolated communities, is where it is toughest.” *** 8