Racial Disparities of Daily Living in the DC Area: Findings from the 2018 DC Area Survey

Abstract

This report demonstrates that the daily experiences of DC-area residents differ by race. The study focuses on four dimensions of daily living: neighborhoods, local institutions, policing, and immigration enforcement. Data come from the 2018 DC Area Survey that represents residents of DC and its surrounding jurisdictions. White DC-area residents experience many fewer issues in their daily lives than black and Latino residents, and somewhat fewer issues than Asian residents. The disparities of daily living provide tractable opportunities to reduce racial disparities among DC-area residents to overcome seemingly intractable problems of racial wealth and health disparities. The report recommends cross-sector collaboration by policy makers, business and non-profit leaders, philanthropies, and universities to address the disparities of daily living.