U.S. Rep. Donald M. Payne, Jr. (D-10) voted for the Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys Act today.  The bill would establish a 19-member commission to examine the social disparities that disproportionately affect Black males in America. Commission members will review several issues and statistics to understand why it occurs, such as homicide rates, arrest and incarceration rates, poverty, violence, fatherhood, mentorship, death rates, disparate income and wealth levels, school performance in various grade levels, and general health.

In addition, the commission will investigate whether there are potential civil rights violations happening today that affect Black men and boys.  The bill comes at a time when a majority of Americans want to improve racial equality in the nation after Minneapolis police murdered George Floyd.  Since his death, protests have been held in dozens of cities across the country to end racism and police brutality, including a series of protests in the city of Portland, OR.

“We need to understand what keeps Black men from achieving the American Dream,” said Payne.  “Everyone seems to understand that there are underlying issues in American society that limit the success of men in our communities of color, but we don’t know how it happens exactly.  I am confident that this commission will find the answer and then work to generate solutions to help achieve racial equality in our country.”