2021’s States With The Most Racial Progress

In 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. introduced the world to his dream of a society that focuses on character, not on complexion. America has certainly come closer to realizing Dr. King’s vision. According to WalletHub, segregation and discrimination continue to persist.

In 2020, conversations on race became especially prevalent, with protests largely about police brutality giving way to greater discussions of inequality.

These discussions seem to be making an impact, too – according to a recent survey by the Pew Research Center, 52 percent of Americans say they have been paying more attention to issues of race in recent months.

In addition, 49 percent of Americans say the U.S. hasn’t done enough to give black Americans equal rights to white Americans, compared to 45 percent in 2019.

As we think about future improvement, it’s important to recognize the racial harmony we’ve achieved — in our workplaces, in our schools and in our voting booths.

To that end, WalletHub measured the gaps between black people and white people across 21 key indicators of equality and integration in each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia.

The data set ranges from median annual household income to standardized-test scores to voter turnout.

Racial Integration in Texas (1=Most Integrated, 25=Avg.)

Note: All of the following comparisons refer to the gaps between white people and black people, according to the most recent available data:

• 10^th – Median Annual Household Income Gap
• 6^th – Labor-Force Participation Rate Gap
• 10^th – Unemployment Rate Gap
• 9^th – Homeownership Rate Gap
• 4^th – Poverty Rate Gap
• 1^st – Gap in % of Adults* with at least a High School Diploma
• 8^th – Gap in % of Adults* with at least a Bachelor’s Degree
• 17^th – Standardized-Test Scores Gap
• 1^st – Voter-Turnout Gap (2016 Presidential Election)

* “Adults” include the population aged 25 and older.