Why is this important?

The legacy of settler colonialism and chattel slavery has led to systemic racism and continues to perpetuate the systems that produce obstacles for Black Vermonters’ access to public or private economic benefits. There has been a systematic erasure or appropriation of culture of Black Vermonters. Systemic racism has created significant wealth disparities and cultural disempowerment among Black Vermonters. Racial disparities also continue to exist across the housing, education, employment, health services, transportation and justice systems. These disparities and cultural erasure and appropriation directly and indirectly affect the health and wellness of Black individuals and communities. This threatens economic development, democracy, and social health and wellness for all Vermonters.

Black home ownership in Vermont is only 21.1% (4th lowest in the nation).

People of Color are four and a half times as likely to be denied a home loan compared to applicants who are White. Nearly a quarter of Black Vermonters live in poverty, compared with 11 percent of Vermonters overall. This is a direct result of the wealth gap between the Black, Indigenous and other People of Color community and their White counterparts. The median household income for a Black Vermonter is $41,533.00 compared to $58,244.00 for their White counterparts.

Vermont Racial Justice Alliance research surrounding the impact of systemic racism indicates that Black people experience adverse disparities in poverty, income and wealth as well as disparities in other social determinants (housing, education, health services, etc.). In collaboration with our partners we are centering the needs of the Black community in the work of rectifying historical racial inequity. We are accomplishing this work by serving as a cultural broker in the expansion of programs and services to marginalized communities where historically they have been ineffective, inefficient or nonexistent. We are creating new systems that empower Black Vermonters denied equal access to public or private economic and other opportunities. We are creating a space in Burlington where the Black Community’s wellness culture and youth intersect.

The Richard Kemp Center expands programs and services that support Black Vermonters’ wellness, preserve their culture, support their youth and advance racial equity and justice.