A documentary “Diminished Returns: The Black Wealth Gap in Washington, D.C.” is gearing up for screenings at film festivals and to the public in 2025.
The documentary, which debuted in the District on Sept. 10, is a product of iF, A Foundation for Radical Possibility and is directed and written by Sabiyah Prince, a cultural anthropologist.
“I wanted to bring together social science with filmmaking,” Prince, 65, said. “So much harm has been done to the Black community in Washington. Poverty is a key area. It is important to note that in terms of wealth, the Black middle class is not equal to white middle class.”
The documentary talks about the District as a city of contrasts, distinguishing elites from the working class, the native from the newcomers, where intrinsic economic disparities exist alongside a rich history of Black culture and resilience. The film notes that for centuries, Black residents have faced systemic barriers rooted in the legacies of enslavement, segregation, and serial displacement, all of which have contributed to the Black wealth gap that exists.
According to U.S. census data, the median net worth of white households in the area is $284,000 — 81 times the median savings and assets of Black households. Wage theft, housing discrimination, and economic injustice have only widened the gap.
This staggering difference has profound implications for the quality of life, economic stability, and future opportunities of Black residents, according to the documentary. The documentary features District leaders such as D.C. Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie (I-At Large), historian G. Derek Musgrove and anti-mass incarceration activist Tony Lewis Jr., talking about how the racial wealth gap negatively impacts Blacks economically, politically and socially.
Thank you James Wright Jr for writing this important story! Thank you Washington Informer for publishing it!! And THANK YOU Sabiyah Prince for creating a CRITICAL Truth Telling film about the District of Columbia. Look forward to seeing it in 2025