2026 STATE OF BLACK AMERICA® REPORT CHARTS A PATH FOR AMERICA TO DELIVER ON ITS PROMISES AT 250
50 Years After Report’s Inaugural Release, The 2026 State Of Black America Reveals Extent Of Economic And Civil Rights Rollbacks And Identifies A Path For Rebuilding
Special Section Examines Impact of Black Consumers on U.S. Economy
NASHVILLE (July 30, 2026) — The 2026 State of Black America® report, “America at 250: Is the American Dream Dead?” examines how the founding promises of America, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, have been structurally denied to Black Americans since this country’s inception.
The report also finds a correlation between civil rights advocacy and equity-driven policy on improved life outcomes and opportunities for Black America. The contributing authors and the Urban League movement lay a foundation for an equitable future.
“The Black American story is the American story. Our communities’ resilience in the face of structural and physical violence, led in part by the state, has laid the foundation for liberation movements around the world,” said Marc H. Morial, President and CEO of the National Urban League. “250 years later, we know how to secure our rights, we know the playbook our opponents use to attack us, and we know how to chart a path forward.”
Key findings from the report reveal how a people-driven policy agenda in the early 2020s reduced Black unemployment to its lowest point on record, 4.7% in 2023, and how a walk-back on equity and assaults on diversity led to unemployment rates climbing to 7.8% in 2026 and a loss of $87B in income for Black households.
This year’s contributors include Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock, Maryland Governor Wes Moore, President and CEO of the NAACP LDF Janai Nelson, Washington State Attorney General Nick Brown, and other prominent authors who explore what’s possible at the intersection of advocacy and policy for the advancement of racial justice and equity.
The report includes a special section on the shifting attitudes of Black consumers that tracks how the Black dollar is reshaping the economy. Among the findings:
- Black spending power now rivals a top 10 global economy
- Nearly half of Black consumers will leave a brand that retreats from racial justice policies
- Young Black consumers are building the next economy
To read the report, essays from our contributors, and the special section, visit stateofblackamerica.org.