What is the biggest barrier for Black Americans reaching financial freedom?
Gov. Wes Moore (D-Md.)
“Wealth is the ability to pass something off to your children besides debt and I think that we have got to focus on actually creating Black wealth because it benefits the entire country.”
Tamika McGhee, director of faith affairs, community engagement and events at the Center for Responsible Lending
“One of the barriers is education. In some of the communities, especially in underserved communities, they’re just not getting what they deserve.”
State Sen. Sarah Anthony (D-Lansing), chair of the Michigan Senate Appropriations
“This country was built on the backs of Black labor and we’ve never truly grappled with what Black liberation and Black reparations would look like. If we want to fix this issue, we need to have a serious conversation about how to write the historic wrongs that have been done to the descendants of enslaved Africans.”
Mayerline Louis-Juste, project manager for strategic partnerships at the National Low Income Housing Coalition
“The biggest barriers to financial freedom is the access to homes. Whether it’s homeownership or even renting.”
Rep. Lamonica Mciver (D-N.J.)
“I think access to capital is a big problem. Many black businesses just cannot get the same access as white businesses to the capital they need to start their businesses.”
U.S. Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.)
“Being able to afford to pay for your health care, your education, and your housing.”
