United we stand. Together we act.
Until the land of the free is free of racism.
Until the home of the brave is brave enough to change.
Until “by the people” and “for the people” means doing right by all the people.
Until justice just is.
SYSTEMIC RACISM LEADS TO WIDESPREAD DISPARITIES FOR BLACK AMERICANS.
It hurts Black owned businesses.
Black-owned businesses are 2x as likely to be denied loans as those owned by white people. And up to 95% of Black-owned businesses may have been shut out of the federal government’s recent Paycheck Protection Program. (Center for Responsible Lending)
It denies Black children an equal education.
The average non-white school district receives $2,226 less per student, and the persisting achievement gap means Black students are less likely to attend college, thus reducing their lifetime earnings by 65%. (NPR and Manhattan Institute)
It traps Black Americans where they live.
Black families are more likely to live near concentrated poverty because of long-term segregation and racist housing and mortgage policies. A Black family earning $157K per year is less likely to qualify for a loan than a white family earning $40K. (The Century Foundation)
It undermines Black wealth building.
Black Americans are more likely to be turned down for mortgages and are dramatically less likely to own homes, which is partly why Black American families have 90% less wealth than white families. (Brookings Institution)
It takes the "justice" out of "criminal justice".
Besides being 2x as likely to be killed by police, Black Americans are more likely to be stopped by the police, detained pretrial, charged with more serious crimes, and sentenced more harshly than white people. (Vera Institute of Justice)
The average non-white school district receives $2,226 less per student, and the persisting achievement gap means Black students are less likely to attend college, thus reducing their lifetime earnings by 65%. (NPR and Manhattan Institute)
Black Americans are more likely to be turned down for mortgages and are dramatically less likely to own homes, which is partly why Black American families have 90% less wealth than white families. (Brookings Institution)
Black-owned businesses are 2x as likely to be denied loans as those owned by white people. And up to 95% of Black-owned businesses may have been shut out of the federal government’s recent Paycheck Protection Program. (Center for Responsible Lending)
Black families are more likely to live near concentrated poverty because of long-term segregation and racist housing and mortgage policies. A Black family earning $157K per year is less likely to qualify for a loan than a white family earning $40K. (The Century Foundation)
Besides being 2x as likely to be killed by police, Black Americans are more likely to be stopped by the police, detained pretrial, charged with more serious crimes, and sentenced more harshly than white people. (Vera Institute of Justice)
The pledge
We hold these truths to be self-evident:
That all people are created equal
and born with certain unalienable rights,
including life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,
regardless of who they love, how they identify,
where they come from, or the color of their skin.
But all too often, that truth is forgotten.
All too often, those rights are ignored.
As all too many stand in silence,
and all too many suffer alone.
That’s why we pledge to come together.
And commit to act for the greater good.
Until the land of the free is free of racism.
Until the home of the brave is brave enough to change.
Until “by the people” and “for the people”
means doing right by all the people.
UNTIL JUSTICE JUST IS.
That all people are created equal
and born with certain unalienable rights, including life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, regardless of who they love, how they identify, where they come from, or the color of their skin.
But all too often, that truth is forgotten. All too often, those rights are ignored. As all too many stand in silence, and all too many suffer alone.
That’s why we pledge to come together. And commit to act for the greater good.
Until the land of the free is free of racism.
Until the home of the brave is brave enough to change.
Until “by the people” and “for the people” means doing right by all the people.
UNTIL JUSTICE JUST IS.
Together, We can end racism once and for all.
Here's how you can help
Support YWCA St. Paul's work to dismantle systemic racism.
Help support programs in housing, employment and youth empowerment address areas where our community shows deep racial and gender disparities, as well as our community racial and social justice education and advocacy initiatives. Through our programs and initiatives, families and individuals of all genders find their power to be self-reliant and build the resources needed to be independent.
Take steps, small and large, to be part of the change.
Join our email list to receive updates about upcoming events in our Equity & Justice Conversation series, our 21-Day Racial Equity & Social Justice Challenge and other ways to make change in your community.
Community Events
To promote better understanding of the impact racism has on our lives, YWCA St. Paul launched a series of Equity and Justice Community Conversations, each focused on a specific topic reflecting the serious consequences of racism, such as housing stability and homelessness, voting rights, employment and education.
As an extension of our ongoing YW Speaker Series, we also hold virtual Town Hall gatherings, the most recent focused on “Tackling Racism,” and featured distinguished community leaders. The panel provided context for understanding what racism is, how it shows up in laws & policy, how it impacts the day to day life of African American people and other people of color and what each of us can do to confront it.
21 Day Racial Equity and Social Justice Challenge
YWCA St. Paul offers a 21 Day Racial Equity and Social Justice Challenge to help participants better understand how racial injustice and social injustice impact our community, connect with one another and identify ways to dismantle racism and other forms of discrimination. For 21 days, participants are presented with challenges such as reading an article, listening to a podcast, reflecting on personal experience and taking action to promote change.
Anti-Racism Resource List
To broaden understanding of racism in our society and the ways that individuals can work to eliminate it, YWCA St. Paul compiled resources considering racial justice, racism and the impact of racism on lived experiences.
