Ellison: More capital, better wages can bridge MN racial income gaps
Minnesota can narrow the economic gulf between whites and blacks by helping black entrepreneurs find capital, investing more in workforce development and supporting higher wages, says U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison (DFL-Minn.).
Ellison, who hosted a summit Tuesday in Minneapolis focusing on the economic inequalities of African-Americans, told the gathering Minnesota continues to be a prosperous place for whites but not for blacks.
Recent Census data shows the median income for black households in Minnesota dropped by about $4,500 to about $27,000 annually. That's less than half the median income of white households.
"I just think we've got to get our act together, combine all our talents and resources, to make sure that everybody in Minnesota, African-Americans too — and when I say African-American, I mean Somalis, East Africans, Liberians — can participate in the environment that we have here," Ellison said.
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"We could argue about whether or not household income dropped by $4,000 or $8,000 ... the reality is that African-Americans in this state still make less than half of what their white counterparts do, and that's completely unacceptable," added Tawanna Black, executive director of the nonprofit Northside Funders Group, which works with foundations across the Twin Cities.
"For us, it's about taking ownership of philanthropy's role in addressing racism in workforce development, in economic development, in the way that we invest our funds in communities. And really believing that a different outcome is possible," she said.
One man who spoke to the group said he fears not being able to feed his child because companies won't hire him when they hear he has a criminal record.
"I need help," said Ken, a 37-year-old African-American who asked that his last name not be used because of his record.
"There's so many jobs ... but they won't hire me because of my background. I'm tired of it," he said. "We've been prone [to accept] that criminals can't work. There are fewer places that are willing to hire you and train you."