America has long been heralded as a land of opportunity, where people from all walks of life can forge a better future for their children. At the heart of this American Dream lies the concept of intergenerational mobility: the idea that each generation can surpass the attainments of their parents.
As a new report shows, however, upward mobility remains a dream out of reach for far too many. Blacks, Latinos, and American Indians are much less likely to enjoy upward intergenerational mobility and much more likely to be trapped within or fall into lower income brackets, lower levels of educational attainment, and poorer health.
Striving and Thriving: Racial Mobility Gaps and Patterns, a new report by Arnold Chandler of Forward Change, looks at extensive research documenting mobility patterns and racial/ethnic disparities in the United States and analyzes how they have changed over time. The report uses expansive contemporary and traditional measures of upward intergenerational mobility, analyzing changes in several dimensions: income and education, referred to as “striving,” and physical and mental health, or “thriving.”
Policy and practice interventions must be informed by a deeper understanding of these dynamics if we are to eliminate disparities and ensure that full participation in the land of opportunity is possible—now and for generations to come.
In addition to exploring inequities in striving and thriving, this report examines an alarming and growing body of evidence that people of color and those from low-income backgrounds may trade their health for their educational and economic success. Delving into the connections between dimensions of mobility as a next step is key to understanding which strategies are best suited to close gaps and ensuring that better long-term outcomes for diverse populations in both striving and thriving are compatible goals.
To learn more, click the link below and check out: Striving and Thriving: Racial Mobility Gaps and Patterns.
More reports are coming soon in the Striving and Thriving series that build upon this analysis.
This work was supported by the Stuart Foundation and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the US Department of Health and Human Services.
The first report in the series examines current intergenerational mobility patterns and racial/ethnic disparities in the United States across three dimensions: income, education, and health. Additionally, it investigates potential conflicts between “striving” (upward mobility in education and income) and “thriving” (improvements in mental and physical health across generations).
The second report in the series presents findings from an extensive review of the research literature identifying 24 key life course milestones that help or hinder upward intergenerational mobility in education, income, and health. These milestones help to explain racial/ethnic gaps in intergenerational mobilities.
The third report in the series describes interventions that are effective in improving key mobility milestones for youth of color. It summarizes the characteristics of rigorously-evaluated programs affecting education, juvenile justice, and employment milestones.