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The personal finance website WalletHub placed Illinois near the
bottom in several categories, including the difference between
white and Black residents in median annual income.
“The fifth largest gap in the country,” researcher Jill Gonzalez
said. “The same with the labor force participation rate.
Illinois is again the fifth highest and the second highest when
looking at the unemployment rate.”
Illinois ranked 40th in the poverty rate, 46th in the homeless
rate, and 49th in the share of unsheltered homeless.
Illinois has created an agency to deal with equity called the
Illinois Office of Equity, with a mission to advance “diversity,
equity, inclusion, and accessibility through state agencies,
legislators, and within the community.”
Some see the causes of racial wealth gaps in the U.S. varying
but being tied to historical, structural and social forces that
affect some racial groups more than others.
“Jim Crow laws and school segregation policies denied African
Americans the opportunity to education and ownership for
decades, which is very clearly tied to the unequal
intergenerational transfer of inheritance that drives racial
wealth gaps,” said Terrell Strayhorn, professor at Virginia
Union University. “And long-standing unfair tax codes, income
disparities, and mandatory sentencing also fuel wealth gaps.”
Other Midwestern states scored poorly in the study, including
Wisconsin as the second worst state and Iowa the third worst in
the country.
The top three state economies with the most racial equality are
Alaska, Arizona and New Mexico, according to Wallethub.
Kevin Bessler reports on statewide issues in
Illinois for the Center Square. He has over 30 years of
experience in radio news reporting throughout the Midwest.
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