Watch: Exploring the Racial Wealth Gap
In Charlotte, as in other communities, the color of your skin correlates strongly to the amount of wealth your family is likely to have. Nationwide, White households have 10 times the wealth of Black households and 7 times the wealth of Latinx households.
How did this come to be, and what can we do to change it? On Oct. 12, we explored the roots and consequences of the racial wealth gap, looking at policies and practices that have set some groups up to accumulate far more wealth than others.
Our panel included Kieth Cockrell, president of Bank of America Charlotte. Cockrell, who has almost three decades of experience at Bank of America, is responsible for leading the Charlotte market and deploying the bank’s resources to help address the region’s social and economic challenges.
Dr. Darrick Hamilton is a professor of economics and urban policy at The New School’s Milano School of Policy, Management, and Environment, as well as the founding director of the Institute for the Study of Race, Stratification and Political Economy at The New School. His proposals, including for policies such as baby bonds and a federal jobs guarantee, have attracted attention and served as the basis for legislation at the federal, state and local levels.
Angelique Gaines is a research associate at the UNC Charlotte Urban Institute. In her role, she has studied the racial wealth gap in Charlotte and the surrounding communities, as well as policies that could help alleviate the disparity.
Dr. Byron White, Associate Provost for Urban Research and Community Engagement, will moderate the discussion. With a focus on equity and community engagement, he is leading efforts such as a community-driven program to address food access disparities in West Charlotte.
Join us Oct. 28 for our next Schul Conversation, about the role of workforce development and economic mobility. Find out more and register here: Schul Conversation on Workforce and Economic Mobility.