Michigan ranks near the bottom in a recent study measuring racial integration and progress across the U.S., highlighting significant disparities between Black and white residents.
The state ranks 46th in racial integration and 39th in racial progress, according to the study released Tuesday by WalletHub.
In the employment and wealth category, Michigan stands at 46th place for integration and 45th for progress. This suggests persistent income gaps, differences in labor-force participation, and disparities in homeownership rates between Black and white populations.
Education is a relatively bright spot for Michigan, with the state ranking 9th in progress but 40th in integration. This indicates some advancements in closing the educational attainment gap, though significant disparities remain.
The state ranks 36th in social and civic engagement integration and 44th in progress. These rankings reflect ongoing challenges in achieving equitable participation in community and civic activities, such as voting.
“When you’re in an urban arena and all you see is crime and poverty, and maybe at one time you voted and you didn’t see change, you’re likely to not vote in the future because what’s the point? Nothing changes,” Chip Lupo, WalletHub analyst, tells Metro Times.
But civic engagement is what influences policies that impact racial integration and progress, so failing to vote can make matters worse.
Health outcomes reveal further inequities, with Michigan ranking 47th in integration and 36th in progress. This points to substantial differences in health status and access to healthcare services between racial groups.
Detroit, as Michigan’s largest city and one of the largest Black-majority cities in the U.S., is often a focal point for the state’s racial disparities. The city’s history of economic disinvestment, segregation, and high poverty rates has left many Black residents facing significant obstacles in areas like employment, housing, and education. While Detroit has seen some revitalization in recent years, especially downtown, the legacy of systemic inequality continues to affect the lives of many of its residents, contributing to broader state issues.
Since 2000, Detroit has lost about 295,000 Black residents, or 37.4% of its African American population, a higher figure than any other U.S. city.
Meanwhile, the white population continues to rise in Detroit as suburban residents flock to the city for better jobs in industries like tech and finance.
But racial inequality in Michigan doesn’t just affect Detroit — it contributes to systemic problems felt statewide, Lupo says.
“Michigan has a lot of work to do in those areas,” Lupo says. “Lansing is the capital, but it seems the state comes and goes depending on how well Detroit does,” Lupo says. “It does look like there is a glimmer of hope. There is a ray of positivity, but only time will bear that out.”
Michigan’s low rankings in both racial integration and progress highlight the need for comprehensive policies aimed at addressing systemic disparities, Lupo says. Targeted efforts in employment, education, civic engagement, and health are essential to foster a more equitable environment for all residents, he added.
Nationally, Wyoming leads in racial progress, having significantly reduced income disparities since 1979. Mississippi has also made notable strides in decreasing poverty-level disparities since 1970. Conversely, states like Wisconsin and Illinois rank among the lowest in racial integration.
