On January 25, 2021, President Biden signed an executive order on racial equity. The order is comprised of four actions:

  • End racially discriminatory housing policies
  • End private prisons
  • Improve Native American and Alaskan Native relations with the U.S. 
  • End xenophobia against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

This is apparently just the start of President Biden’s mission to advance racial equity in America. During the announcement of this order, he has stated, “When we lift each other up, we’re all lifted up. And the corollary is true as well- when any one of us is held down, we’re all held back.” Perhaps the commitment to closing the racial gap, particularly the wealth gap, could not be timelier considering the disastrous effect this country’s pandemic response has had on the economy. According to Biden’s domestic policy advisor, Susan Rice, this country could see a bump up of $5 trillion over the next five years being added to the economy should efforts to end racial economic disparities prove effective. 

Biden also plans to put his team to work in other ways. There are talks of increasing funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities. There are also plans to restore and extend the Voting Rights Act. Additionally, there will be increased funding to Title I schools and to minority-owned businesses. We will have to wait and see what the next four years of this new administration actually does to make this country a fair place for all. 

Posted by:Charlotte Roberts