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Crisis Assistance Ministry

Crisis Assistance Ministry

Charlotte, NC

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Six Facts About Racial Disparity in Mecklenburg County You Should Know

We know that access and opportunity open doors. And we may even know that access and opportunity are not equally distributed to all of our residents. But, do we know exactly what those disparities look like? And, further, the actions we can take to address them head-on?

June 16, 2020

You know that access and opportunity open doors. And maybe you’re becoming aware of the fact that access and opportunity are not equally distributed across all racial groups. But do you know exactly what the disparities look like? And further, the actions you can take to address them head on?

1) 70% of the people served at Crisis Assistance Ministry are African American vs 32% of Mecklenburg County’s population.

The reasons for this are complex. Systemic racism and discriminatory policies and practices – including in education, housing, and law enforcement – have intertwined over the centuries, creating vastly disparate economic realities for African Americans and white Americans.

One thing you can do: Read The 1619 Project, an ongoing initiative by the New York Times Magazine that offers thought-provoking essays and reflections aimed at telling our nation’s contentious history truthfully.

2) There is a significant racial income gap in Charlotte-Mecklenburg.

About a third of white families in Mecklenburg County have incomes in the highest quintile ($125,000+) while less than 10% of Black families do. At the other end of the scale, 29% of Black families and 14% of white families have incomes in the lowest quintile (<$29,999).2

One thing you can do: Support Black-owned businesses. Check out Charlotte Agenda’s list of Charlotte area Black-owned businesses for inspiration.

3) The racial wealth gap is enormous.

At the median, a white family’s wealth is ten times greater than a black family’s3. While much of the work around economic mobility has focused on income disparity, wealth (the value of all assets minus debt) is a better indicator of a family’s stability.

One thing you can do:  Read  “The Racial Wealth Gap: Charlotte-Mecklenburg” by the UNC Charlotte Urban Institute and watch Netflix’s “Racial Wealth Gap”, a brief but thorough explanation of how we got to this troublesome state.

4) A Black man from Charlotte is nearly ten times more likely to be incarcerated than a white man4.

Our criminal justice system has a long, troubled history of systemic racism.  As evidenced by the current events surrounding the deaths of innocent Black people at the hands of police, the issues are complex and painful.

One thing you can do: Call or write your state legislators and advocate for racial impact statements to be required for all criminal justice legislation under consideration. These statements evaluate whether a proposed bill would exacerbate racial disparities if it became law. Learn more here.

5) “Wealth stripping” is a thing, and it happens here in Charlotte.

Probably the most infamous example is the story of Brooklyn. Once a thriving African American community, it fell victim to Charlotte’s first urban renewal effort in the 1960s and ‘70s. Hundreds of Black families and business were displaced, freeing up the valuable land for government buildings and parks. But wealth stripping is not an archaic footnote in history; some zoning policies and predatory banking practices keep it alive and well today.

One thing you can do: Watch video reflections from former Brooklyn residents who shared their stories for the Levine Museum of the New South’s exhibit Brooklyn: Once a City Within a City.

6) Silence is complicity.

We’re all familiar with the Department of Homeland Security’s mantra, “If you see something, say something.” It was designed to raise awareness and prevention of possible terrorist activity, but the words apply to much more than that. It is our duty to protect our neighbors from harm – be it physical, psychological, or financial. If we’re honest, we know there are injustices and inequalities in our community. The question is, will we speak up?

One thing you can do: Vote. As we head into another election cycle, research the candidates and their positions on social and economic issues. The League of Women Voters offers nonpartisan information at Vote 411.

1 United States Census Bureau
2 “The Racial Wealth Gap: Charlotte-Mecklenburg”, UNC Charlotte Urban Institute, November 2019.
3 “The Racial Wealth Gap: Charlotte-Mecklenburg”, UNC Charlotte Urban Institute, November 2019.
4 “The Racial Wealth Gap: Charlotte-Mecklenburg”, UNC Charlotte Urban Institute, November 2019.

Filed Under: Advocacy, Special Interest Tagged With: Racial Justice

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    Charlotte, NC 28206
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What's in your closet that could help out a neighbor in the warmer months? 
Spring has sprung here in the Queen City. That means the needs of families shopping, free of charge, at @CrisisAssistMin are changing too. 
You can help meet their needs with donations of new or gently used clothing, shoes, or household goods or by signing up as a volunteer to help receive, inspect, and prepare donations for shoppers.

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What do you do when you miss out on the big dance? 
Well, these Charlotte area #Tarheels pitched in to unload a truckload of donated goods and prepare them for families who shop free of charge in the Free Store. Thanks to these @charlottecarolinaclub #volunteers, it's always a #GDTBATH! 
THANKS for all you do to give back in #CLT.

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Happy St Patrick's Day!  This big ole batch of 400+ granola bars will provide a little bit of sustenance to waiting families thanks to @MeckKidz from @meckchurch. Youth used "Meck Bucks" earned for participation in activities to purchase bars for the snack ministry here @CrisisAssistMin

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Happy International Women's Day!
Today we take a look at how this year's theme of Embrace Equity affects the people (and mostly the women) served here at Crisis Assistance Ministry every day.

Observed worldwide on March 8 as a celebration of “the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women,” International Women’s Day is also a global call to action for accelerating women’s equality.

The theme for this year’s observance is “Embrace Equity.” Organizers at International Women’s Day (IWD) encourage everyone to “Imagine a gender-equal world. A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. A world that’s diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated.” 

While great strides in gender equality have been achieved since women gained the right to vote in 1920, there is still much work ahead. Consider these indicators of the gender gap in the United States:
- Women full-time workers earn, on average, 82 cents for every dollar earned by men
- American women earn less than men in all industries, with the most significant pay gaps in management positions
- The construction industry has the smallest gender pay gap, but only 9% of construction workers are women
- Unpaid work like housekeeping and caring for children falls mainly to women 

Read More at the link in our bio

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The theme for Black History Month 2023 is “Resistance”, a single word that encompasses so much. Through the centuries, a long line of brave and committed Black Americans have battled injustice, some on the public stage and others behind the scenes. But for every high-profile or large-scale act of resistance, countless others go unnoticed. Every day at @CrisisAssistMin, we see brave and committed Black Charlotteans struggling to resist the forces of an unjust society right here in Mecklenburg County.
Read "Black History Month: Resisting the Status Quo" at the link in our profile.

crisisassistmin

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It was a beautiful weekend to share (more than) @onewarmcoat with our neighbors! Our friends from One Warm Coat finished up their working retreat by distributing brand new coats to families right here in our parking lot. So many smiles, a few tears of relief, and a lot of runway spins were shared.

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We 💙 💙 💙 it when community members create their own "Army" to celebrate birthdays and other milestones in each others' lives. Thanks to these #volunteers from "Eric's Army," shoppers this week found essentials like clothing, shoes, and household goods free of charge. Together, we #preservedignity for #CLT families who are struggling financially.

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We're excited to have @QCfamilytree share their expertise as our staff digs into the impact of systemic racism here in Mecklenburg County and its impact on the people served here. Thanks Greg, Helms, & Shamaiye for taking time to help us begin these important conversations.

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