Briefs
Digging Deeper: 2026 Senate Democratic Caucus Diversity Numbers
July 31, 2026
On July 31, 2026, the Senate Democratic Caucus released an update of its demographic data on Democratic staff (find 2026 numbers here and 2025 numbers here). The analysis below ranks…
How OBBBA is Changing Higher Ed Access for Black Students
July 14, 2026
In July 2025, Congressional Republicans passed, and President Donald Trump signed, a partisan budget reconciliation package that will reshape the American economy and further erode the social safety net. These…
The Reality of Racial Economic Inequality for Black Retirees
July 10, 2026
Racial economic inequality has shaped the lives of most African Americans, and it continues into the “golden years” of retirement. In 2022, the typical white family held about $285,000 in…
Black Fatherhood and the Economics of Family Security
June 18, 2026
Father’s Day is a celebration of fathers, grandfathers, and father figures. It is also an opportunity to examine the economic conditions that shape Black fatherhood. Being present and involved is…
Motherhood, Work, and the Black Economy
May 8, 2026
For Mother’s Day, the Joint Center released a policy snapshot titled Motherhood, Work, and the Black Economy. Black mothers are central to the economic security of Black children and families.…
Billions Invested, Black Workers Must Benefit: A Case Study of Place-Based Industrial Policy in Arizona and North Carolina
May 7, 2026
With more than $80 billion of federal funding flowing into place-based initiatives in high-growth industries, the United States has an opportunity to create real economic mobility for Black workers in…
How State Policymakers and Community Leaders Can Help Close the Federal AI Policy Gap for Black Entrepreneurs
March 31, 2026
This brief, How State Policymakers and Community Leaders Can Help Close the Federal AI Policy Gap for Black Entrepreneurs, examines the current state of Black entrepreneurship at the dawn of…
The Economic State of Black Women in the United States
March 23, 2026
By Cantrell Dumas The policy snapshot, The Economic State of Black Women in the United States, explores the continuing influence of broader structural and historical factors in shaping economic security…
Five Principles to Support Black Workers and Learners in Pathways to Non-Degree Credentials
December 15, 2025
By Justin Nalley, Kayla Elliott, Ph.D., and Gabrielle Smith Finnie, Ph.D. The Joint Center’s issue brief, “Five Principles to Support Black Workers and Learners in Pathways to Non-Degree Credentials,” offers guidance on…
Breaking Barriers in Career and Technical Education: Centering Black Students in Perkins Reauthorization
December 3, 2025
By Justin Nalley, Kayla Elliott, Ph.D., and Araceli Chavez The Joint Center published an issue brief titled “Breaking Barriers in Career and Technical Education: Centering Black Students in Perkins Reauthorization,”…