Transit agencies rarely hire women and minority contractors. Here’s why that matters.
Although there is a fairly sizable share of Black-owned firms in DC, especially relative to Black-owned firms nationwide, the share of business sales receipts going to Black-owned firms in DC and the nation is much lower than for White-owned firms. Comparable statistics for Latinos and Asians reveal that Latinos, business sale receipts in DC and across the United States are lower, while Asian business sales receipts are on par or higher than what would occur if business sales receipt were racially and ethnically equally distributed.
There is a tendency to attribute the racial wealth gap to individual character flaws among people without wealth. … history of the structural barriers in local and national policies, Supreme Court rulings, programs, and practices … created wealth for many White families and prevented wealth accumulation or stripped wealth from many Black families."