A year of institutionalized racism
“When machines and computers, profit motives, and property
rights are considered more important than people,” he warned, “the giant
triplets of racism, extreme materialism, and militarism are incapable of being
conquered.”
Those words, delivered in 1967, still summarize today’s
political moment. Instead of putting the lives of working Americans first, our
leaders in Congress and the White House have prioritized advancing corporate
profits and wealth concentration, slashing government programs meant to advance
upward mobility, and deploying military forces across the country, increasing
distrust and tension.
This historic regression corresponds with a recessionary
environment for Black America in particular. That’s what my organization, the Joint Center, found in our report, “State
of the Dream 2026: From Regression to Signs of a Black Recession.”
The economic landscape for Black Americans in 2026 is
troubling, with unemployment rates signaling a potential recession. By December
2025, Black
unemployment had reached 7.5 percent — a stark contrast to the
national rate of 4.4 percent. This disparity highlights the persistent economic
inequalities faced by Black communities, which have only been exacerbated by
policy shifts that have weakened the labor market. The volatility in Black
youth unemployment, which fluctuated dramatically in the latter months of 2025,
underscores the precariousness of the situation.
The Trump administration’s executive orders have
systematically dismantled structures aimed at promoting racial equality. By
targeting programs such as Lyndon
Johnson’s 1965 Equal Employment Opportunity executive order and defunding
agencies like the Minority Business Development Agency, the administration
has shifted federal support away from disadvantaged businesses.
As a result, Black-owned firms risk losing contracts and resources tied to federal programs, potentially resulting in job losses and reduced economic growth. These changes threaten billions in federal revenue for Black-owned firms and undermine efforts to move beyond racial inequality in the workforce.
The GOP’s so-called “Big Beautiful Bill,” passed in
2025, further
entrenches inequality by providing tax cuts that disproportionately
benefit high-income households and corporations — while simultaneously slashing
investments in programs like Medicaid and SNAP, limiting access to essential
services for low-income households.
The technology sector, a critical component of the American
economy, is also affected by this disregard for civil rights. Executive orders
like “Removing Barriers to American Leadership in Artificial Intelligence”
have stripped
away protections that could advance inclusion in this rapidly growing
field. As a result, the future of the American economy risks reinforcing past
inequalities.
Dr. King’s call for strong, aggressive federal leadership in
addressing racial inequality remains highly relevant. However, instead of
eradicating structures of inequality, our current leadership is implementing
policies that destroy government jobs and dismantle agencies responsible
for preventing
predatory economic practices. These choices undermine longstanding efforts
to combat racial and economic disparities — and exemplify the regressive
economic policies that coincide with rising Black unemployment.
As Dr. King stated, “we refuse to believe that the bank of
justice is bankrupt.” But urgent action is required. Unless we act
deliberately, economic and racial inequalities will become entrenched,
resulting in generational loss. The core question is whether we will move
beyond our nation’s history of racism, materialism, and militarism, and — as
Dr. King urged — embrace “the fierce urgency now” to advance equity.
Dedrick Asante-Muhammad an associate fellow of the Institute for Policy Studies and president of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, America’s Black think tank. This op-ed was distributed by OtherWords.org.
