CINCINNATI — The Urban League of Greater Southwestern Ohio released its "Journey to Parity: The State of Black Cincinnati" report Wednesday. The report was unveiled at the organization's third Juneteenth Celebration.
A report has not been published since 2015.
"There wasn't anything shocking in the data," said Christie Kuhns, president and CEO of the Urban League of Greater Southwestern Ohio. "What is surprising is just that we haven't made as much progress."
Cincinnati City Council member Reggie Harris said the report "paints a clear, raw, sobering,and undeniably challenging landscape for Black Cincinnatians."
The league said the report evaluates the equity and state of inclusion in the following areas:
- Economics
- Employment
- COVID outcomes
- Health
- Education
- Housing
- Criminal justice
- Civic engagement
“When we talk about parity, we are referring to equality and fairness around access to resources, services and opportunities,” Kuhns said. “As we think about the future of Cincinnati ensuring parity is essential to creating and maintaining a vibrant, thriving, future-forward community. This report is a call to action for city and community leaders to work together to address the challenges and barriers that prevent our city from being opportunity-inclusive for everyone.”
Criminal Justice
The report said that African Americans make up 13% of Ohio's population but 34% of the individuals in jails and 45% of people in prisons across Ohio.
According to the league's findings, since 1978, the incarceration rate for Black individuals in the state of Ohio has increased by 125%.
The report also found statistics on the percentage of Black juveniles detained throughout the state.
In total, 15.8% of Ohio's population are Black youth, but "approximately 56% of the Department of Youth Services' juvenile population in 2018." Most of the juveniles sent to correctional facilities are males, according to the report.
Housing
According to the report, there was a disparity in the percentage of Black individuals who were approved for mortgage loans when compared to white individuals in 2020.
The league said the data revealed that in Cincinnati, 67% of white borrowers were approved for mortgage loans while only 17.5% of Black borrowers were approved.
In Hamilton County, Black individuals were being sued in over 50% of the eviction cases. White individuals only made up 37%.
Employment
Over 7 years ending in 2022, unemployment rates for Black and white workers decreased. The rate decreased from 18.7% to 11.2% for Black workers and 6.4% to 3.9% for white workers.
Even though it is encouraging that the unemployment rates are decreasing, the rate for white workers when compared to Black workers is significantly lower.
"The rate of unemployment for Black workers was still almost 100% higher than their White counterparts as of 2022."
Survey results
The Urban League released a survey to Black Cincinnatians in 2015 and 2024 and compared findings. Here's what they found:
- Inclusivity in Cincinnati: 39% of respondents said it was inclusive in 2015 vs. 52% in 2024
- Quality of life in Greater Cincinnati: 59% rated their quality of life as good or excellent in 2015 vs. 71% in 2024
- Perceived level of inclusion: 33% of respondents said it was good in 2015 vs. 22% in 2024
- Race Relations in Greater Cincinnati in 2024 only: 24% said it was good, 38% said neutral and 38% said not good
"We can't in one fell swoop erase disparate outcomes on the institutional level," said Jasmine Coaston with the Urban League. "We can move forward to right what the data has revealed is very, very wrong."
Policy Agenda
The report urges city leaders to focus on improving affordable housing, economic empowerment and civic engagement.
Report authors say changes to the zoning code will help increase housing volume and urge leaders to consider policies that combat gentrification.
Authors also want leaders to invest in economic empowerment incentives, such as an expanded child tax credit, universal basic income and government investments in childcare.
The report also advocates for fair and equitable congressional maps, and urges local government leaders to join in on engaging voters.
"The best thing you can do is be informed," Kuhns said. "A lot of folks will say, 'I didn't know. I had no idea.' Well, now, you know. And you can make sure that those folks who are within your network also know."
Click here to read the entire report.
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