Data & Research
The State of the Black Labor Market
The brief, The State of the Black Labor Market, analyzes U.S. labor market data for Black workers from January to August 2026. The first eight months of 2026 produced three…
The Earned Income Tax Credit, Black Workers, and the Case for Reform: Refundable Tax Credits and Black Economic Security
This brief, The Earned Income Tax Credit, Black Workers, and the Case for Reform: Refundable Tax Credits and Black Economic Security, makes the case for protecting and strengthening the EITC…
The Tax Code and Black Wealth: How the Federal Tax Code Builds Wealth for Some and Strips It from Others
The Tax Code and Black Wealth is a policy brief series examining how the federal tax code builds wealth for some and strips it from others, organized into sub-series that…
Opening a Retirement Account Is Not Enough to Close the Black Retirement Divide
Racial economic inequality follows Black Americans across the life course. In 2022, 22 percent of Black children lived in poverty, compared with 10 percent of white children. Among adults ages…
Digging Deeper: 2026 Senate Democratic Caucus Diversity Numbers
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
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
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…
Unrepresented: Black and Latino Leadership Among Senate Committee Top Staff
While senators make the final decisions for their offices, top committee staff wield significant influence due to their deep subject matter expertise in specific policy areas. Corporations, advocacy organizations, news…
Black Fatherhood and the Economics of Family Security
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
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.…