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Stepping Up: The Social Justice Activist

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Social justice is built on the pillars of human rights, equity, participation, and access. When a society is just, everyone is respected, supported, and protected. Achieving social justice isn't easy as there are many issues that need to be addressed. Here are 15 examples:

#1. The gender pay gap

Around the world, the gender pay gap is one of the slowest-moving social justice issues. There's been progress, but according to the World Bank's Women, Business, and the Law 2022 report, around 2.4 billion women of working age aren't getting equal economic opportunities. 95 countries don't ensure equal pay for equal work. When it comes to lifetime earnings, how big does that gap end up being? Globally, The World Bank Managing Director of Development Policy and Partnership says women make about $172 trillion less than men. Some areas are doing better than others. According to the WE Forum's Global Gender Gap Report, only five countries got scores higher than 0.800 on wage equality for similar work: Albania, Burundi, Algeria, Iceland, and Singapore. Unfortunately, wage equality for similar work has gone down since 2021 in seven countries, including China and Cambodia.

#2. Income inequality

The gender pay gap contributes to income inequality, but it's not as if all men are doing well financially. Income inequality concerns people within states and the wealth between states. When the pandemic struck, global income inequality got worse and even undid some of the progress of the past 20 years. While the global economy rebounded in 2021, the World Bank estimated that global growth would decelerate from 5.5.% in 2021 to 3.2% in 2023. Inflation is also a major issue. However, while people fall into poverty, the world's ten richest men more than doubled their fortunes during the first two years of the pandemic, earning an average of $1.3 billion a day. It's hard to think of something more unequal than that.

#3. Climate change

Many factors drive climate change, such as agriculture, offshore drilling, fracking, and more. Despite decades of warnings and serious events like drought and hurricanes, fossil fuel emissions are not improving. The past seven years were the warmest on record. Scientists agree that if significant change isn't made, temperatures will continue to rise. Extreme weather events will become more frequent and billions will be at risk. Fighting climate change is important because it affects other issues, such as food security, poverty, gender equality, and more.

#4. Food insecurity

With climate change, supply chain issues, and inflation, food insecurity is an ever-present issue. Things got especially dire in 2022 when Russia invaded Ukraine and blockaded Ukrainian ports, cutting off grain exports to the rest of the world. While events like war trigger food insecurity, increased hunger has been on the rise for years. The 2022 edition of The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) report found that hunger affected around 828 million people in 2021, which reflects a 46 million people increase.

#5. The refugee crisis

According to the UN Refugee Agency, over 2 million refugees will need to be resettled in 2023. That's a 36% increase from 2022. There are a few reasons why, including the pandemic, climate change, conflict, and more. Women and children are especially vulnerable to trafficking and violence. According to a report from Save the Children, "likely all children" migrating to Europe through the Balkans faced violence. Police and smugglers were the most common perpetrators. Both the resettlement and safety of refugees as they migrate are must-address social justice issues.

#6. Universal healthcare

"Good health and well-being" is the third Sustainable Development Goal. It's closely linked to other goals such as clean water, sanitation, and zero hunger. To achieve this goal, universal healthcare is essential. The need for it was made blatant during the COVID-19 pandemic, but healthcare systems around the world were already failing many people. According to the WHO, over 930 million people spend at least 10% of their household income on healthcare. Because of out-of-pocket spending, 100 million people fall into poverty each year. Universal healthcare, which ensures everyone has access to all the healthcare they need without financial hardship, is one of the most urgent social justice issues.

#7. Poverty

The world has been trying to deal with poverty for many years, but according to the World Bank, it's unlikely to end extreme poverty by 2030. COVID-19 was a big reason why. In 2020, 70 million people fell into extreme poverty. This number represents the largest one-year increase since 1990 when the world started monitoring global poverty. Extreme poverty, which is defined as earning less than $2.15 a day, concentrates in areas where it's hard to address, such as rural areas, Sub-Saharan Africa, and areas with conflict. Ending poverty is complex and involves addressing other social justice issues, such as low-quality education, inferior healthcare, gender inequality, and so on.

#8. Gender-based violence

Gender-based violence is a global issue. According to the WHO, about 30% of women have endured physical and/or sexual violence in their lifetime. Most violence is perpetrated by an intimate partner. This type of violence affects a person's sexual, mental, emotional, and physical health. The violence can also be fatal. Around the world, around 38% of murdered women were killed by their intimate partners. Reports, like the one released by the United States Institute of Peace, found that COVID-19 made gender-based violence worse. How can gender-based violence be addressed? It requires a multi-faceted approach. Improved gender equality, early education, better legal protections for women, and more are essential pieces of the puzzle.

#9. State violence

Violence perpetrated by the state is a growing concern. We've seen several examples in just a few years. In 2020, U.S. protests against police brutality were met by more excessive force in places like New York City, where police officers trapped protesters. Unable to leave, the protesters were trapped until the start of the city-wide curfew, after which the police began attacking them without warning. A report by Human Rights Watch stated that "the police response to the peaceful Mott Haven protest was intentional, planned, and unjustified." In 2022, Iran (which already has a long history of state violence) responded to peaceful protests with brutality. While exact numbers are hard to come by, hundreds of protesters could have been killed, including many children.

#10. Threats to the trans community

The LGBTQ+ community as a whole is vulnerable to violence and discrimination, but the trans community has been facing an increasing number of threats. The United States provides many disheartening examples. In Florida, the state board of medicine agreed to start the process of barring minors from receiving puberty blockers, hormone therapy, or surgeries to treat gender dysphoria. This goes against organizations like the American Medical Association, the American Psychological Association, and the American Academy of Pediatrics, which support gender-affirming care for young people. Meanwhile, in Keller, Texas, a school board voted to ban all books that even mention gender fluidity. Actions like this represent a concentrated effort to roll back rights for LGBTQ+ people.

#11. Eroding democracy

Freedom House, an organization that conducts research and advocacy on democracy and political freedom, has found that global freedom is declining. In their 2022 report, they found that while only 25 countries improved their democracy, 60 countries got worse. 2023 could be worse for places like Southeast Asia where in Myanmar, the junta continues to rule. Freedom is also threatened in Afghanistan where the Taliban have once again taken over. In November, the Taliban ordered judges to impose its interpretation of Sharia Law, which could open the door to even worse human rights violations.

#12. Political extremism

Eroding democracy is closely linked to political extremism, which is becoming an increasingly urgent problem. On January 6th, 2021, a riot of Trump supporters attacked the United States Capitol in an attempt to stop the electoral vote count. This represents a trend of overtly violent political extremism, which has included a mass shooting in Buffalo and an attack on the husband of Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the House. Political extremism isn't limited to the United States. A ProPublica article published not long after the insurrection outlined a growing international network of right-wing extremists. It's been happening for years. While the world focused on Islamic extremism following 9/11, right-wing extremism grew fairly unhindered.

#13. Cybersecurity threats

According to the WEF's Global Risks Report 2022, cybersecurity vulnerabilities are a major concern. In wake of the pandemic, many economies underwent rapid digitalization. While useful, that has increased the risk of cyberattacks. 2022 saw some significant attacks, including in Costa Rica, where a cyber gang known as Conti disrupted financial operations. The Ministry of Finance was targeted, leading the country to declare a national emergency. What does this have to do with social justice? Cybersecurity is closely related to issues of privacy and safety, which are social justice issues. Who gets access to the best cybersecurity measures is also a social justice issue. As this blog post by Merritt Baer points out, cybersecurity is a wealth discrimination issue.

#14. Reproductive rights

Reproductive rights are linked to other social justice issues like gender equality, healthcare, poverty, LGBTQ+ rights, and more. While it's not the only reproductive right, the right to abortion remains a significant concern. Worldwide, the laws vary, though many countries only allow abortion to save the mother's life. In places like the Philippines, Iraq, Andorra, Congo, and Egypt, abortion was prohibited completely at the time of writing (2022). Abortion rights can also be taken away. In June, the US Supreme Court overruled Roe v. Wade, saying that abortion was not a constitutional right. In an even more concerning move, some states are already targeting birth control.

#15. Racism

Racism takes many forms, but it remains a persistent social justice issue. Throughout 2020, a wave of anti-Asian hate crimes surged around the world. An article in Time collected various statistics from places like New Zealand, which found that 54% of Chinese survey participants had experienced discrimination. In the UK, hate crimes against Chinese, East, and South East Asians rose by as much as 300% compared to data from 2018 and 2019. Racism against Black people is still prevalent, too. The National Urban League released its annual report in 2022, reporting that while Black Americans made economic and health gains, white people were still ahead in education, social justice, and civic engagement. These are just two examples of racism and why it needs to be addressed.

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15 Social Justice Issues We Must Address

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Social justice is built on the pillars of human rights, equity, participation, and access. When a society is just, everyone is respected, supported, and protected. Achieving social justice isn't easy as there are many issues that need to be addressed. Here are 15 examples: #1.

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After exploring the facts around Poverty, the following resources will help classroom teachers, community, church and service group leaders, home schoolers and other educators initiate meaningful discussions about poverty in America today.

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Climate change: US plagued by continuous record-breaking heatwaves

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In the past decade, refugee crises claimed headlines on a daily basis. Millions of people have fled their homes to find safety and a future. Situations like the Syrian civil conflict and the Rohingya exodus to Bangladesh are just two examples.

Refugee crises around the world still continue to make headlines and be a major concern. In fact, the number of refugees and internally displaced people worldwide has grown: more than 103 million mid-2022, up from 82.4 million at the end of 2020. Among them, 36.1 million are children, 1.5 million of whom were born as refugees. This means that roughly one in every 78 people in the world is now forcibly displaced.

The ongoing Ukraine crisis has also exacerbated the number of displaced people around the world, impacting official available figures. With a constant flow of people fleeing the country, reports estimate that more than 8.2 million people were displaced since the first month of the crisis, which started in February 2022. This exodus is considered "one of the fastest-growing refugee emergencies on record."

With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the situation became even more dire. Below, read the main facts and figures of the most pressing refugee crises in 2023. They are listed by the country and region from which the refugees and migrants originate.

You will notice that we use terms such as 'refugees', 'internally displaced people', 'asylum seekers' and 'migrants.' To get a better understanding of what each term means, check out our article " What is a refugee? Facts and how to help."

Ukraine

Number of refugees: 8 million

Number of internally displaced people: 5.9 million

In February 2022, violent conflict broke out on the Russia-Ukraine border between Russian and Ukrainian military forces, forcing millions to flee their homes and causing widespread death and destruction in Ukraine.
The conflict in Ukraine has reverberated across the world, disrupting global supply chains and raising inflation on necessities such as fuel and food.
According to the UNHCR, approximately 17.6 million people in Ukraine need humanitarian assistance. Millions of refugees-mostly women and children-have sought safety in neighbouring countries such as Poland, Moldova and Romania.

Learn more about the Ukraine crisis and what World Vision is doing.

Two thirds of the 7.5 million Ukrainian children have become displaced in the last year. Here at the Pro Valoare Refugee Centre in Moldova, these children and their families are learning to rebuild their lives again after they were disrupted by violence. Photo: Christopher Lete

Number of refugees: 5.4 million

Number of internally displaced people: 6.9 million

Since 2011, Syria has been engulfed in a civil war that has left the country in shambles. It accounts for over 25 per cent of the global refugee population with approximately 13.5 million people displaced. As of 2023, 6.9 million were scattered across the country, according to the UN Refugee Agency. Of that number,  5.9 million people  are in acute need of humanitarian assistance. To date, there are about 2.7 million Syrian children living as refugees and about 2.5 million children living as internally displaced people.
Syrians who fled the conflict are currently living in more than 125 countries, but most are sheltering in neighbouring countries, including Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Egypt. A number of Syrian refugees live in camps such as Zaatari and Azraq in Jordan, but the vast majority -  95 per cent  - live in urban and rural areas.

Learn more about the Syrian refugee crisis and what World Vision is doing.

Syrian children living in a refugee settlement in the Bekaa Valley in Lebanon. Photo: Maria Bou Chaaya

The Venezuelan refugee and migrant crisis is one of the largest displacement crises in the world. While other refugee crises have been triggered by conflict and war, the Venezuelan situation is different. To date, about 5.6 million Venezuelans have left the country as a result of an unprecedented humanitarian crisis fomented by years of economic hardship and political instability. While most are considered migrants, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) recognizes 186,800 refugees and over 952,300 asylum-seekers.

A collapsed economy, shortages of food and medicine, and lack of security are some of the main reasons millions of Venezuelans have left their homes. Most of the migrants go to nearby countries, including Colombia, Peru, Brazil and Ecuador. With no proper documentation, thousands are struggling to establish themselves in host countries, becoming vulnerable to labour and sexual exploitation, trafficking, violence, discrimination and xenophobia.

Learn more about the Venezuelan migrant crisis and what World Vision is doing.

The hands of a mother and child. A small family of three makes the journey back to their home in Venezuela after fleeing to Peru. Faces were cut off from the frame to protect their identities. Photo: Erica Bohorquez

Number of refugees: 2.8 million

Number of internally displaced people: 2.9 million

Afghanistan has endured a two-decade conflict, economic hardship and climate-related challenges. As a result, more than 2.8 million people have fled the country, with 90 per cent hosted by Iran and Pakistan, and the rest going to different countries in Europe and elsewhere. The situation in Afghanistan is so dire that as of March 2022, 24.4 million people  - nearly half the country's population - are in need of humanitarian assistance.
Although  5.3 million refugees have returned to Afghanistan since 2002, the number of Afghans going back home has sharply declined in recent times. One major contributor to this is the increase in violence across the country. In 2021, the latest surge of violence in Afghanistan has  forced another 600,000 people  to flee their homes. Of all recently displaced Afghans, 80 per cent are women and children.

Learn more about World Vision's work in Afghanistan.

A mother and child consult with a doctor at a mobile clinic in Afghanistan's Herat Province. They are among thousands of internally displaced families living in informal settlements in the area after fleeing their homes due to drought and conflict. Photo: World Vision Afghanistan Staff

Number of refugees: 2.4 million

Number of internally displaced people: 2 million

Established in 2011, South Sudan is the world's newest country. However, in 2013, conflict broke out, sending the country into a downward spiral of violence, economic crisis, hunger and disease. As a result, millions of South Sudanese have fled their homes, creating the largest refugee crisis in Africa.
Of the 2.4 million South Sudanese refugees, over 80 per cent are women and children. It is estimated that of the total refugee population from South Sudan, 63 per cent are children. Most of this population is being hosted in neighbouring countries, including Sudan, Uganda, Ethiopia, Kenya and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Learn more about the South Sudan refugee crisis and what World Vision is doing.

South Sudanese children in the Maaji III refugee settlement sing and play. Photo: Aggrey Nyondwa

Number of refugees: 1.2 million

Number of internally displaced people: 1.3 million

The Rohingya people are an ethnic minority group in Myanmar. Since the early 1990s, they have faced discrimination and violence, forcing many to flee the country. Myanmar's government considers them illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. Since 2017,  773,000 Rohingya refugees  have fled to Bangladesh to escape the escalating violence in Myanmar's Rakhine state. The vast majority settled in refugee camps in Cox's Bazar.
One of the camps, Kutupalong, is the largest refugee settlement in the world, hosting over 635,000 people in an area of about 13 square kilometres. The majority of the Rohingya refugees are women and children - 40 per cent are children under 12.

In 2018, even though an agreement was reached for the Rohingya to return home, none did. The refugees don't want to go back until they have the guarantee of safety and citizenship.

In December 2020, the  Bangladeshi government started relocating groups of Rohingya refugees to settlements on an island in the Bay of Bengal. They claimed that the move would offer the families better quality of life and security as they await repatriation to Myanmar. As of February 2022, there are 19,000 Rohingya refugees on the island of Bhasan Char, while  81,000 more are expected to be relocated  once the monsoon season ends.

In addition to the crisis with the Rohingya people, in February 2021, the Myanmar military ousted the country's elected government and established a military-run "State Administration Council." This doubled the number of internally displaced people in the country to 800,000 as of February 2022. A sharp increase from the 370,000 people the previous year.

Learn more about the Rohingya refugee crisis and what World Vision is doing.

In the Rohingya refugee settlement in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, basic hygiene practices such as hand washing are an everyday challenge. Photo: Xavier Sku

Sudan

Number of refugees: Over 1 million

Number of internally displaced people: 3.7 million

In April 2023, violent conflict erupted in Khartoum, the capital of Sudan. This conflict was related to a proposed transition to democratic governance. Since then, the violence has continued to escalate and spread to other parts of the country.
The conflict has destroyed critical infrastructure in the country and pushed over a million people to flee their homes to neighbouring countries, such as Egypt, Chad and South Sudan. Before the conflict, almost 16 million people were already dependent on humanitarian agencies such as World Vision for support and survival.

Learn more about the crisis in Sudan and what World Vision is doing to help.

These Sudanese women arrived at a transit centre in Chad, just outside Sudan. They are among the hundreds of thousands of families fleeing the violence in the country. Photo: Mallory Dionkain

Democratic Republic of Congo

Number of refugees: Over 1 million

Number of internally displaced people: 5.1 million

Between 2017 and 2019, the complex humanitarian situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) was made worse by waves of unrest. That period caused more than 5 million people to become internally displaced, and over 1 million people to flee to neighbouring countries including Angola, Rwanda, Tanzania and Zambia.
The ongoing conflict in the DRC has been full of atrocities and human rights violations such as physical mutilation, sexual violence and detention in inhumane conditions. It is reported that people who have managed to return home have found their communities in ruins.

Although thousands have fled the DRC, the country is also hosting over  535,000 refugees and asylum-seekers   from Burundi, the Central African Republic South Sudan and Rwanda. Approximately 75 per cent of them live outside of refugee camps or settlements.

Learn more about the DR Congo refugee crisis and what World Vision is doing.

Number of refugees: Over 1 million

Number of internally displaced people: 3 million

The Sahel encompasses the semi-arid region of Africa separating the Sahara to the north and tropical savannas to the south. The crisis in the region is concentrated in the central Sahel, which includes Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso. Armed conflict, food insecurity and climate-related challenges, coupled with the devastating consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, have created a severe humanitarian crisis. It's led many to leave their homes to survive. Currently, an estimated 29 million Sahelians need assistance and protection.
People have been fleeing the central Sahel region since 2011, when violence escalated in northern Mali. Over the years, violence has increased and spread to new areas, including the Lake Chad basin. Internal displacement has increased tenfold in the region. From 213,000, the number has ballooned to over 2 million people as of January 2022.

With violence and extreme weather conditions plaguing the region, food insecurity is also at increasingly high levels. Hunger is projected to increase by 50 per cent, from 5.5 million people to 8 million people facing severe food insecurity, or 1 in every 8 people in the region.

Ibrahim Moussa cuts a thorn bush in Chadakori refugee settlement in Niger. He fled his village with his family due to escalating violence. Photo: Ibrahim Mohamed Samna, Joelma Pereira

The refugee crisis in Somalia dates back 30 years. Political instability and the civil war that started in the 1990s have driven hundreds of thousands of Somalis from their homes. Extreme weather conditions, such as drought in the north and abnormally high rainfall in the south and central regions, have also significantly impacted the ability of Somalis to secure their livelihoods.

The crisis has been exacerbated by episodes of famine and ongoing conflict. Between 2010 and 2012, a severe famine claimed the lives of nearly 260,000 people - of those, 133,000 were children under five. The drought emergency in the country has also intensified, causing about 572,000 people to be displaced internally between October 2021 and February 2022. This adds to the 650,000 Somalis already displaced by serious flash floods in 2020.

Currently, there are more than 750,000 refugees living in neighbouring countries (Kenya, Yemen and Ethiopia), and over 2.9 million people are internally displaced in the country.

Central African Republic

Number of refugees: 741,000

Number of internally displaced people: 518,000

The humanitarian emergency in the Central African Republic is considered one of the most poorly funded crises in the world. In 2013, violence by armed rebel groups forced thousands to flee their homes. Approximately 741,000 people are living as refugees in neighbouring countries such as Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Republic of Congo and South Sudan. Moreover, an estimated 652,036 people are internally displaced. The crisis has exacerbated an already poverty-stricken country: as of January 2022, there are 3.1 million people in need, 1.4 million of whom are children.
As of  February 2021, Bangui (the capital and country's largest city) was taken by rebels, who have restricted routes used for delivering supplies. It is reported that displaced families are camping out in buildings like churches, and that they lack essentials such as food and spare clothes.

In December 2021, turbulent elections resulted in conflict that displaced more than  200,000 people  in less than two months.

Learn more about the Central African Republic crisis and what World Vision is doing.

Refugee children from the Central African Republic living in Camp Bili, in the North Ubangi province of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Photo: Didier Nagifi Sademoke

Number of refugees: 272,127

Number of internally displaced people: 1.2 million

The Iraq war started in 2003, but the displacement crisis didn't emerge until 2014, when violence escalated in the northern part of the country. Attacks launched by the Islamic State (ISIL) gave rise to a conflict that forced millions of families to flee their homes and destroyed half of the country's infrastructure.
It is estimated that more than 270,000 people left Iraq and over 1.2 million people are currently displaced inside the country, half of whom are children. According to the UNHCR, a significant number of internally displaced people returned to their homes in 2018 but continue to face challenges accessing essential services (such as food, water, sanitation and healthcare) and livelihoods. The agency says there are over 2.5 million Iraqis in need of humanitarian assistance.

Iraqi boys living in settlements for internally displaced people in Salah al-Din, Tikrit, Iraq. Photo: Shayan Nuradeen

Number of refugees: 141,308

Number of internally displaced people: 4 million

Since conflict erupted in Yemen in 2015, 200,000 people have fled the country and approximately 4 million have become internally displaced. An estimated 20.7 million people are in dire need of humanitarian assistance. Yemen is facing the worst humanitarian crises in the world today. Even so, the country still hosts more than 200,000 refugees from neighbouring Somalia and Ethiopia.
Physical danger, food insecurity and inadequate healthcare are the main challenges people from Yemen are facing. According to the UNHCR, almost two-thirds of the population is on the brink of famine. Children are being disproportionality affected, with an estimated 2.3 million under the age of five at risk of acute malnutrition and 400,000 at risk of severe malnutrition.

Northern Ethiopia (Tigray, Amhara, Afar)

Number of refugees: 120,000

Number of internally displaced people: 1.7 million

In November 2020, armed conflict broke out in the northern region of Ethiopia known as Tigray. As the fighting continues, hundreds of thousands of people are being forced to flee their homes. Currently, the UNHCR estimates 1.7 million displaced people from Tigray, more than half of whom are women and children. Others are fleeing to nearby Sudan - about 120,000 people. Tigray also hosts thousands of refugees from Eritrea.
The situation has given rise to an alarming humanitarian crisis - around 5.2 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance. The UNHCR reports that more than 3,000 people are leaving Tigray for Sudan every day. The vast majority is sheltering in remote areas that have little infrastructure to help them. The humanitarian response has been slow due to a lack of electricity, as well as poor telecommunications and little access to fuel.

Tehagos, 34, along with her four children, fled the Tigray crisis and is now at a site for internally displaced people. Photo: Fitalew Bahiru, Kebede Gizachew

Updated by Alicia Dubay

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The most urgent refugee crises around the world

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Over 103 million people have fled their homes due to conflict, hunger and violence, giving rise to the most urgent refugee crises in the world.

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ATLANTA (AP) - The National Urban League released its annual report on the State of Black America on Tuesday, and its findings are grim. This year's Equality Index shows Black people still get only 73.9 percent of the American pie white people enjoy.

While Black people have made economic and health gains, they've slipped farther behind white people in education, social justice and civic engagement since this index was launched in 2005. A compendium of average outcomes by race in many aspects of life, it shows just how hard it is for people of color to overcome systemic racism, the civil rights organization says.
READ MORE: Student loan debt has a lasting effect on Black borrowers, despite the latest freeze in payments
"These numbers change so little and so slowly. What it tells me is that this institutional disparity based on race seems to be built into American society," National Urban League President Marc Morial said in an interview.

The index shows not only that median household income for Black people, at $43,862, is 37 precent less than that of white people, at $69,823. Black people also are less likely to benefit from home ownership, the engine of generational wealth in America. Census data shows Black couples are more than twice as likely as whites to be denied a mortgage or a home improvement loan, which leads to just 59 percent of the median home equity white households have, and just 13 percent of their wealth.

"In that area of wealth, we've seen almost no change, none, since the civil rights days," Morial said. "The wealth disparity has gotten wider."

Among dozens of health measures, one stands out: Life expectancy has declined slightly for African Americans, so a Black child born today can expect to live to 74.7, four years less than a white baby. And lifelong inequities loom: Black women are 59 percent more likely to die as a result of bearing a child, and 31 percent more likely to die of breast cancer. Black men are 52 percent more likely to die of prostate cancer.

Overdoses afflict the races about equally, while white people are 55 percent more likely to drink themselves to death through cirrhosis or chronic liver disease. Among people 15-24, white people are more than twice as likely to commit suicide, while Black men are nine times more likely to die by homicide.

Educational gaps abound: Black and white preschoolers are roughly equally prepared, but the classrooms they enter are starkly different. Schools with more minority students are more likely to have inexperienced, less trained and even uncertified teachers. Fewer of these students are enrolled in the STEM classes that can lead to higher-paying jobs. Black students are less likely to graduate college.

The index uses U.S. Justice Department statistics to chart social justice differences, noting that Black people have been more than twice as likely as white people to experience threats or uses of force during police encounters, and three times more likely to be jailed if arrested. In 2020, they were 93 percent more likely to be victims of hate crime.

Measuring civic engagement, the index cites 2020 Census data showing that white people are about 5 percent more likely to be registered and to actually vote than Black people.

Morial chose to release the report in Atlanta, where a concentration of historically Black colleges have long represented high achievement among African Americans, in part because its survey shows a declining faith among young people that voting can make a difference. The Urban League is responding by launching a "Reclaim Your Vote" campaign.

"Georgia is ground zero for voter suppression. The legislature's actions after Jan. 6 have been sweeping in their aggressiveness to suppress the vote," Morial said. "We've got to remain resolute, to push back against this. We cannot give in. We cannot give up."

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Annual report shows systemic racism continues to bring down Black people's quality of life

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Urban League President Marc Morial says the index shows how hard it is to overcome systemic racism that's made life harder in many ways for people of color.

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Study Reveals Steep U.S. Gender Pay Gaps Especially Among Women Of Color