Paths to progress: Race, equity, and democracy

Our country’s overall progress is undeniably linked to race relations and the well-being of various racial groups. People across racial and ethnic identities desire financial security, health, affordable housing, quality schools, and safe neighborhoods, along with confidence that our government and leaders act with a sense of fairness. The differing outcomes across racial lines on basic quality of life measures make racial equity a pivotal issue for the upcoming U.S. presidential election. 

On Monday, June 3, the new Center for Community Uplift (CCU) at Brookings, directed by Senior Fellow Andre M. Perry, explored how different racial groups perceive their progress on measures of well-being and economic security. The “Paths to Progress” event was co-hosted by HUMANLEVEL, an initiative founded by artist and activist John Legend that promotes systemic change and racial equity across American communities. Differentiating from the dominant discourse around racial divisions, “Paths to Progress” addressed racial equity as a unifying priority and an issue at stake in the upcoming presidential election. Featured scholars and practitioners focused on our interconnectedness with the aim of forming a policy agenda around achieving collective prosperity. John Legend lead an intimate conversation on solutions that eliminate discrimination, racism, and exclusion.