depressing

Study: Racial Wealth Gap Widening

The wealth disparity between races has tripled in 25 years.

Racial inequality is alive and well. According to a new study, the wealth gap between African-American and white families has tripled in the past quarter century. The study, conducted by Brandeis University’s Institute on Assets and Social Policy, found that the gap between white and African-American family wealth increased from $85,070 in 1984 to $236,500 in 2009, with African-Americans making less than whites. The biggest culprit of the disparity: homeownership, followed by income. Thanks to racial discrimination in the job market, it's harder for African-Americans to build income, according to the study, and they tend to be more vulnerable to home foreclosure.