presentation (slides) - bebr.ufl.edu reports/ri3...understanding racial inequity in alachua county...

Understanding Racial Inequity in Alachua County

(January, 2018)

Hector H. SandovalBureau of Economic and Business Research (BEBR)

Department of Economics

College of Liberal Arts and SciencesUniversity of Florida

Racial Inequity in Alachua County


Racial inequity is a long-standing issue in every community across the United States, compromising

the opportunities of minority individuals and families

The purpose of this study is to provide a picture of racial inequity in Alachua County on several dimensions of human well-being

Bureau of Economic and Business Research

IntroductionRacial Inequity in Alachua County

Race and Ethnicity are two different concepts

Race

- A person’s self-identification based on social and cultural characteristics as well as ancestry. An individual can report as

White, Black or African American, Asian, American Indian and Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, some other race, or with multiple races.

Ethnicity

- Ethnicity is defined by a shared cultural heritage and language. This determines whether a person is or isn’t of Hispanic origin:

Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin.

- Hispanics may report as any race, for example, as Hispanic-White.

Bureau of Economic and Business Research Racial Inequity in Alachua County Population

The population in Alachua County is over a quarter of a million. The largest minority group is African Americans, and the second one is those identified as Hispanics.


Alachua County Population in 2015

Non-Hispanic White 161,443African American 51,528Asian 16,280Hispanic 23,985Total 259,964

72.2%

67.0%

20.7%

4.6%2.8%

6.7%

70.0%

63.6%

20.5%

5.6%4.0%

8.5%

70.1%

62.1%

19.8%

6.3%3.8%

9.2%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

White Non-Hispanic White Black Asian Other Hispanic

Alachua County Population Distribution

2006

2010

2015

Roadmap

1. Methodology

2. Racial Inequity in Alachua County

3. Housing, Transportation, and Neighborhood Supplement

by UF Program for Resource Efficient Communities (PREC)

4. Factors and Forces Behind Racial Inequity in the County

5. Views and Opinions of Minority Groups

6. General Conclusions

Bureau of Economic and Business Research Racial Inequity in Alachua County Content

Two complementary approaches

Quantitative component Data on 50 different indicators

representing several aspects of human well-being to provide a quantitative baseline

1. Economic well-being2. Education3. Family structure4. Child welfare5. Involvement in the Justice System 6. Health Status7. Housing and Transportation

Qualitative component Focus group with African

Americans residents of Alachua County

10 one-on-one interviews– 3 with county residents from

minority groups other than Blacks

– 7 with experts on local and national racial disparities.

Bureau of Economic and Business Research Racial Inequity in Alachua County Methodology

Roadmap

1. Methodology







Bureau of Economic and Business Research Racial Inequity in Alachua County Content

For almost all households, the sale of their labor services constitutes a major source of income. Losing or not being able to find a job can harm a family’s economic well-being.


Racial Disparities

5.8%

8.1%

6.7%

14.7%15.6%

14.8%

8.5%

6.3% 6.4%

7.8%

9.6% 9.8%

0%

2%

4%

6%

8%

10%

12%

14%

16%

18%

Alachua Florida USA

Unemployment Rate in 2015

Non-Hispanic White

Black

Asian

Hispanic


Differences in employment opportunities contribute to important income disparities.

Bureau of Economic and Business Research Racial Inequity in Alachua County

$51.7 $52.5

$59.5

$26.6

$34.7 $35.7

$47.2

$61.9

$74.2

$32.1

$40.9 $42.7

$0

$10

$20

$30

$40

$50

$60

$70

$80

Alachua Florida USA

Thou

sand

s

Median Household Income in 2015 (thousands of dollars)

Non-Hispanic White

Black

Asian

Hispanic

Racial Disparities


Unemployment

Unemployment rate is highest for Blacks/African Americans

Blacks in the county are 2.5 times more likely to be unemployed compared to non-Hispanic Whites.

Asians and Hispanics are 1.5 times more likely

Income

Median household income for Blacks is equivalent to 51% of non-Hispanic Whites.

For Hispanics is equivalent to 62%

Income greater than $50,000 25.7% of Black households 34.3% of Hispanic households 47.4% of Asian 51.6 % of Non-Hispanic White


Racial DisparitiesRacial Inequity in Alachua County

Income disparities are accompanied by higher poverty rates for Blacks and Hispanics.


19.7%

35.7%

24.9%

31.2%

11.5%

27.5%

12.5%

21.6%

10.8%

27.0%

12.6%

24.3%

13.5%

44.6%

5.7%

21.5%

14.8%

38.7%

11.7%

29.1%

13.1%

38.3%

12.9%

32.3%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%

Non-HispanicWhite

Black Asian Hispanic Non-HispanicWhite


Black Asian Hispanic

Alachua Florida United States

Poverty and Child Poverty in 2015 Poverty

Child Poverty



Poverty

Alachua County’s poverty rate is higher than that in Florida and the U.S.

In Alachua County, 35.7% of Blacks are considered

in poverty 31.2% of Hispanics are

considered in poverty

e.g. for a family of four with two children under age 18, the poverty line was $24,036 in 2015.

Child Poverty

Starker differences for Blacks/African Americans:

Overall, 44.6% of Black children are in poverty

Black children are 3.3 times more likely to be in poverty than non-Hispanic White children



Income disparities are also related to school performance and attainment.


74.0%

27.7%

88.9%

59.0%

67.5%

36.4%

76.2%

50.0%47.1%

22.3%

78.6%

40.7%

59.6%

32.8%

70.7%

45.1%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Non-HispanicWhite



Alachua Florida

3rd Graders Proficient in Reading and 8th Graders Proficient in Math in 2015

Reading

Math


Disparities in education not only appear in performance, but also in achievement.


77.2%

54.8%

95.8%

63.7%

79.5%

63.7%

88.5%

73.0%

85.0%

66.8%

92.4%

82.1% 85.1%

72.3%

91.9%

74.5%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

120%

Non-HispanicWhite



Alachua Florida

High School Graduation Rate

2011

2015



Performance

Black 3rd graders have the lowest proficiency in reading in Alachua County, and are lower than their peers in the state.

Similarly, Black 8th graders have the lowest proficiency in math

Achievement

Blacks are less likely to complete high school than other racial groups

More than 50% of those who drop out of high school in Alachua County are Black



Parents who did not complete their own schooling may have difficulty helping their child with school.


8.9%

21.2%

18.0%16.4%

20.8%

25.8%

7.0%

17.3%

12.7% 12.5%

14.9%

19.6%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

White Black Hispanic White Black Hispanic

Alachua Florida

Births to Mothers Without a High School Degree

2010

2015


The family structure can play a role in disparities. There’s an important disparity in the births to teen mothers.


5.5%

16.7%

9.5%

7.7%

13.6%

8.6%

3.2%

8.9%

5.2% 4.8%

7.5%

5.7%

0%

2%

4%

6%

8%

10%

12%

14%

16%

18%


Alachua Florida

Births to Teen Mothers (ages 15 to 19)

2010

2015


Another important issue is disparities in out of school suspension.


Racial Disparities

2.8%

14.3%

0.1%

3.5%2.5%

13.1%

0.0%

3.4%

0%

2%

4%

6%

8%

10%

12%

14%

16%

White Black Asian Hispanic

Alachua

Out of School Suspension

2013-14

2014-15


The economic and educational disparities contribute to a pipeline of accumulating factors that results in a starker difference when considering the justice system.


0.4%

3.7%

0.3%0.5%

2.5%

0.4%

0.0%

0.5%

1.0%

1.5%

2.0%

2.5%

3.0%

3.5%

4.0%


Alachua Florida

Juvenile Detention Rate in 2015 (incidents per 100 residents)

2.5%

16.8%

2.4%3.1%

9.7%

2.1%

0%

2%

4%

6%

8%

10%

12%

14%

16%

18%


Alachua Florida

Juvenile Arrest Rate in 2015 (incidents per 100 residents)



Juvenile Justice

Black teens are 9.9 times more likely to be detained

Black teens are 6.9 times more likely to get arrested

Blacks are also more likely to be transferred to adult court

Justice System

Overall, Black adults are 3.9 times mores likely to be arrested

A disproportional number of Blacks incarcerated 2.4% of total Blacks have

been incarcerated in Alachua County in 2015

Around 70.8% of the total inmate population in Alachua County is Black



There are also important disparities related to healthcare and health status.


Racial Disparities

11.5%12.8%

9.0%

17.5%

21.7%

15.3%

11.6%

18.9%

12.5%

18.6%

28.0%

25.8%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

Alachua Florida USA

Uninsured Rate in 2015

Non-Hispanic White

Black

Asian

Hispanic


Roadmap

1. Methodology








ContentRacial Inequity in Alachua County


PopulationRacial Inequity in Alachua County

Compared to Non-Hispanic Whites, each minority group has a higher percentage of households with at least one basic or severe problem with the quality and condition of their housing.


Housing, Transportation, and Neighborhood

35.4%

53.5%

42.6%

54.8%

40.3%

20.4%

29.7%

25.2%

38.6%

23.6%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Non-Hisp. White Non-Hisp. Black Non-Hisp. Asian or PacificIslander

Hispanic Overall

Gainesville (CBSA)

Households with at Least One Problem with the Quality and Condition of Housing

Basic

Severe


Energy consumption adjusted for home size shows differences by race.



9.610.1 9.9

10.2

11.110.4

7.5

9.49.1

9.49.8 10.0

0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

10.0

12.0

Clay GRU Newberry

Energy Use (ekWh) per square foot of Home Areas in Alachua County

White

Black

Asian

Hispanic


When comparing the neighborhood blocks that contained the highest percentage of each demographic group, the cost burden experienced by households is different



4.8%

7.5%6.8%

6.3%

5.4%

7.9%

11.3%

9.4%8.8%

8.4%

0%

2%

4%

6%

8%

10%

12%

White Black Asian Hispanic Overall

Energy and Total Utility Bill as Percentage of Personal Income in Alachua County

Energy

Total Utility



Energy Consumption

Black and Hispanic households across the county have relatively lower total energy use, but it costs them a higher proportion of their incomes

Asian and White residents tend to consume more energy and water, but pay a lower percent of their incomes.

Energy and Housing Burden

White households Pay 4.8% of their income for energy 7.9% of their income in utilities

Black households Pay 7.5% of income for energy Pay 11.3% of their income in utilities

Higher energy cost burden is due, in part, to differences in household incomes, as well as the size, age, quality and energy performance of major appliances and space conditioning systems


Housing, Transportation, and NeighborhoodRacial Inequity in Alachua County

Daily travel distance and annual miles traveled by households is different and reflect vehicle ownership trends and patterns of proximity to work, commercial centers, and destination of interest



10.1

6.4

13.9

15.5

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

Commute

Average Median Commute Distance to Work (miles)

22.6

19.3

16.415.2

0

5

10

15

20

25

Traveled

Thou

sand

s

Annual Household Vehicle Miles Traveled (thousands of miles)

Non-Hisp. White

Non-Hisp. Black

Non-Hisp. Asian

Hispanic


The cost of transportation by households is also different



0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

White Black Asian Hispanic

Cost of Transportation as Percentage of Household Income in Alachua County

White

Black

Asian

Hispanic


Black households live in neighborhoods near schools with the lowest performance of 4th grade students on state exams.


52.0 53.051.5

36.8

40.944.2

52.5

47.946.146.0

48.7 47.4

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Gainesville Florida USA

School Proficiency Index

Non-Hisp. White

Black

Asian or Pacific Islander

Hispanic



Transportation

White households Highest rate of vehicle ownership Most annual vehicle miles traveled Highest cost of transportation

Black households Lowest rate of vehicle ownership Second most annual vehicle miles

traveled Second highest cost of transportation

Hispanic households Longest average median work commute Fewest annual vehicle miles traveled Lowest cost of transportation

Housing and Neighborhood Location

White residents Smallest household sizes Highest rates of homeownership Live in neighborhoods with the lowest

rates of housing vacancies

Black residents Largest household sizes, Occupy the smallest, oldest, and lowest

valued (property appraiser) homes Live in neighborhoods near schools with

the lowest performance of 4th graders


Housing, Transportation, and NeighborhoodRacial Inequity in Alachua County

Roadmap

1. Methodology









Issues that contribute to racial inequity in Alachua County

1. Geography of Alachua County

2. Limited provision of services (affecting education)

3. Education system

4. Lack of wealth accumulation

5. Issues in the local labor market

6. The justice system vis-à-vis minorities


Factors and ForcesRacial Inequity in Alachua County

1. Geography of Alachua County

East side of Gainesville is home to a large percent of minorities. These residents tend to purchase lower-priced homes

Economic development is focused on the West side1) East side tends to have more sensitive wetlands, making development difficult and more costly2) East side does not attract developers who tend to look for customers with ample disposable income

The ability of an area to attract development is critical to creating jobs and services, including schools.



2. Limited provision of services

Florida is a low tax state; counties must bear much of the burden to fund social services

A large portion of the county is off the tax rolls (University of Florida and other public institutions)

The county budget is restricted Low federal/state education funding

Low teacher pay Low investment in pre-kindergarten programs Limited resources for supplemental services

A limited tax base can result in limited services



3. Education system

In minority neighborhoods, the student body can be largely composed of minorities Alachua County magnet schools

Minority’s perceptions might be unintentionally reinforced as these minorities perform at lower levels than the high performing students

School zero tolerance policies When a student is suspended,

They fall behind and may also develop resentment They are likely to be at home alone and might create a difficult situation

for the family and/or other problems that might get reported to the police





61.0%

42.0% 39.6%

36.5%

76.9%

50.1%

69.5%

57.0%60.9%

37.6%39.5%

34.3%

73.4%

45.1%

68.7%

51.7%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

Non-HispanicWhite



Alachua Florida

Homeownership Rate

2010

2015




$155

$117 $113$121

$65

$83

$186

$95

$121

$161

$86

$115

$152

$102$108

$0

$20

$40

$60

$80

$100

$120

$140

$160

$180

$200

Clay GRU Newberry

Thou

sand

s

Average Property Values in Alachua County (thousands of dollars)

White

Black

Asian

Hispanic

Overall


5. Local labor market

Mismatch between the skills acquired and skills needed Disproportionately higher percentage of minorities with lower educational

levels and skills Most of the jobs require postsecondary vocational training, an associate’s or

higher college degree While jobs exist for both higher and lower skill workers, the unemployment

rate is higher for lower skill workers

College students can crowd out the job opportunities for local minorities Employers see college students as a very attractive employees:

• Highly flexible schedules• Advanced knowledge of technology



6. The justice system vis-à-vis minorities

Employment for anyone with a criminal conviction is difficult because having a criminal record is a strike against them for most employers

African-American men are disproportionally affected because there is a larger percentage of African-American men incarcerated



Roadmap

1. Methodology









Focus group participants perceptions

Acknowledge that they live with inequality on a daily basis

Perceive a tradition of racism and unequal treatment based on race

Believe racism exists in African American interactions with both the justice and educational systems.

Believe finding a job is difficult, especially with a criminal record

“They should have a program for Black men when they come out of prison to help them get a job.”

(Participant in the focus group)


Minorities’ Point of ViewRacial Inequity in Alachua County

Focus group participants perceptions

Recognize that the primary solution to the problem is education

Children should be encouraged and helped to complete high school education at minimum

Zero tolerance policies

A child may be having problems for reasons related to the child’s home environment Lack of proper food and clothing Problems within the family or absence of a family member



Other minorities perceptions

Understand that children need to focus on education Take responsibility for their child’s education, but teachers

play an important role Feel schools are not getting the resources they need Aware of the difficulty of getting jobs in the county

“It’s very hard getting a job because more of the college students are coming in. They would rather give the job to a college student than to have the people who

live here working.” (Participant in the one-on-one interviews)



Roadmap

1. Methodology









General Conclusions

Racial inequity is a massive tangle of issues that are deeply connected.

Improvement in one area might be possible, but it may draw resources away from others.

Focusing community efforts in two areas could have a positive long-term impact on all aspects of well-being:

Education

Employment


Policy RecommendationsRacial Inequity in Alachua County

General Conclusions

Provide a high quality educational experience

A successfully educated resident will have a higher lifetime income, more and better employment opportunities, and is

less likely to become involved with the criminal justice system

High school diploma is perceived to be the baseline College is not necessary to get a good job, but getting good skills training is

essential



General Conclusions

Finally, more jobs paying a living wage with a wider diversity of skills and educational requirements are needed

Jobs are essential to lift people out of poverty, improve educational outcomes, and reduce crime




Report will be available:

https://www.bebr.ufl.edu/economics/racial-inequity

Please let us know how you are using the information contained in this report by

emailing United Way of North Central Florida

[email protected]


presentation (slides) - bebr.ufl.edu reports/ri3...understanding racial inequity in alachua county...

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