Opinion

Opinion: Urgent Need to Build African American Political Power in Perilous Times

Published

9 years ago

February 23, 2017

By Carl Anthony

Under the new federal administration, we wake to growing attacks against marginalized communities, vulnerable bodies and an already unstable planet.

To resist the current administration, we must historicize our local and regional contexts. Currently, the Bay Area is undergoing its own resegregation.

Urban Habitat’s recent publication Race, Inequality, and the Resegregation of the Bay Area shows that one of the impacts of racialized regional policies governing transportation, land use, community development, and housing is the displacement of African American populations from our central cities.

Between 2000-2014, the region lost 22,000 African American residents and poverty in African American communities increased most dramatically in the outer parts of the region. This shift in race and class demographics points to a critical need to invest in, build and sustain African American political leadership throughout the region.

To historicize the current moment, we must understand the legacy of discriminatory policies that politically disenfranchised African Americans. There was a great migration of African Americans from the South to the Bay Area during the Second World War.

Many families moved into housing and neighborhoods previously occupied by Japanese Americans who were carted off to internment camps and later received a formal apology and compensation by the US government.

Yet, 400 years after slavery and the aftermath of Jim Crow segregation, African Americans have not yet achieved reparations.

From the 1940s on, African Americans faced new patterns of segregation that included redlining, block busting, housing covenants, and were restricted from moving into newly created suburbs as they began to grow in the 1950s.

These suburbs offered many opportunities that enabled poor whites to enter the mainstream of American prosperity. After passage of the national Civil Rights Act in 1965, some African Americans received some benefits. but the weight and legacy of structural racism still remained.

During the past 30 years, whites began moving back to central cities, taking with them the opportunities to build social capital associated with the suburbs and displacing African Americans and other communities of color to the outer areas of the region.

Today, this forced African American migration to the suburbs has profoundly affected the access of African Americans to jobs, housing, transportation and a healthy environment.

As we enter a new era of repression, we face new challenges and opportunities to correct the patterns of structural racism.

Creating a region wide initiative to build African American political power would allow us to meaningfully participate in the political process and systematically repair the damage of this brutal history.

Bringing the collective energies of African Americans to reinforce progressive politics across the region will provide benefits not only to African Americans but to Asian Americans, Latinos, Indigenous peoples and low-income whites as well.

We must historicize how we got to this specific moment, and examine which strategies – specifically those from African American communities – we must carry forward to resist the times ahead.

Our planet, our spirits, and our bodies are on the line.

Carl Anthony’s book, “The Earth, The City and the Hidden Narrative of Race: Discovering New Foundations for the Great Work of Our Time” is forthcoming in September 2017. He is a founder and director of the Breakthrough Communities Center for Climate Justice and a founder and first executive director of the Urban Habitat Program.

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Advice

Women & Wealth: Tips for Navigating Your Lifelong Financial Journey

Published

2 weeks ago

March 15, 2026

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Sponsored by J.P. Morgan Wealth Management

We are in the midst of a seismic shift in wealth. This phenomenon, often referred to as the “Great Wealth Transfer,” describes the unprecedented movement of assets from the Baby Boomer generation to their heirs – an estimated $105 trillion by 2048. And women are poised to inherit most of this.

J.P. Morgan Wealth Management’s 2025 Investor Study found that women are not only set to receive significant wealth – they’re actively working to build it on their own. Ninety-three percent of women surveyed who are expecting an inheritance aren’t relying on it to reach their goals.

Here are a few tips for women to consider in their wealth-building journey:

Create a financial roadmap

A detailed, well thought out plan is important. J.P. Morgan’s study found that 90% of those surveyed with a plan feel confident about reaching their financial goals, compared to 49% without one.

Your plan should reflect your unique goals, priorities and circumstances. Consider your investment horizon and risk tolerance, and remember to revisit your plan regularly as life evolves.

Are you saving up for goals like buying a house, sending your kids off to college or retiring early? Where do you want to be in the next five, ten or twenty years? Everyone’s financial situation is unique, so it’s important to think about these questions and build a plan that is unique to your life.

Women tend to live longer than men on average. Many take career breaks or care for family members, which can influence long-term planning. It’s important to adjust your strategy with these factors in mind.

Where to start with investing

Don’t let misconceptions hold you back. Starting to invest doesn’t require a large sum, and beginning early can be beneficial. The earlier you start, the more time your money has to potentially grow over the years. Understand your overall financial situation, set clear goals and develop a long-term plan.

It’s important to also make sure you’re covered for unexpected expenses that come up before you start to invest. Build up a cash emergency fund, typically enough to cover three to six months of expenses, and pay down any high-interest debt.

Taking charge of your finances

The good news is that women are taking charge of their finances. J.P. Morgan’s research found that 75% of women respondents make financial decisions with their partner or take the lead themselves. For those who have a spouse or partner, it’s important for each person in the relationship to play an active role in the process.

Building wealth can be empowering for many women. The same survey found that 73% of women respondents said money gives them “security,” while 64% of Gen Z and Millennial women associated it with “freedom.”

The power of having a team

Some people find it helpful to work with a financial advisor, so you don’t have to tackle things alone. An advisor can help you craft a plan tailored to your needs and keep you on track throughout your lifelong financial journey. If you expect to receive an inheritance, you should also consult with estate planning and tax professionals.

No matter where you are on your wealth-building path, education is key. It’s so important to be an informed investor, and there are plenty of resources out there to help. You can find a library of free educational resources at chase.com/theknow.

As the landscape of wealth continues to evolve, women have a unique opportunity to shape their financial futures and those of generations to come. By staying informed and planning ahead, women have the tools to help them confidently navigate the Great Wealth Transfer and set themselves up for financial freedom.

The views, opinions, estimates and strategies expressed herein constitutes the author’s judgment based on current market conditions and are subject to change without notice, and may differ from those expressed by other areas of J.P. Morgan. This information in no way constitutes J.P. Morgan Research and should not be treated as such. You should carefully consider your needs and objectives before making any decisions. For additional guidance on how this information should be applied to your situation, you should consult your advisor.  

JPMorgan Chase & Co., its affiliates, and employees do not provide tax, legal or accounting advice. You should consult your own tax, legal and accounting advisors before engaging in any financial transaction.  