November 24, 2024

Good morning. Welcome to our weekly Sunday newsletter. We will explore how Black communities are affected when receiving disaster relief funding and find out which HBCU is partnering with the FBI to learn more about federal careers.

Inequality In Disaster Relief

By Lisa D. Tinsley

Communities of color are disproportionately vulnerable to natural disasters and receive less federal aid from FEMA than their white counterparts, highlighting systemic inequities in disaster relief. Black Americans, in particular, face compounded challenges due to historical redlining, which left their neighborhoods underinvested and with lower property values, leading to lower insurance coverage and higher premiums. As a result, Black disaster victims often receive less relief funding, with studies showing stark disparities in average payouts between Black and white residents, as well as significant gaps in FEMA application approvals during events like Hurricane Harvey.

FEMA’s reliance on property appraisals and insurance coverage in determining relief further exacerbates these disparities, as Black Americans are more likely to rent than own homes, leaving them with less comprehensive insurance options. Meanwhile, the effects of climate change, including rising flood risks, are projected to disproportionately affect Black communities, particularly in the Southeast, Texas, and along the Gulf of Mexico. These systemic barriers place Black residents at greater risk of insufficient recovery support as natural disasters grow more severe and frequent.

In response to these challenges, FEMA has begun addressing inequities through initiatives like simplifying the eligibility process and expanding access to programs after a 2021 executive order from President Biden. These changes have allowed more underserved communities to qualify for assistance, granting over $709 million to survivors previously deemed ineligible. However, tackling the underlying causes of disaster risk disparities, such as underinvestment in Black communities, remains critical to ensuring equitable relief and recovery for all.

campus chronicles // hbcu edition

Albany State University (Albany, Georgia) has announced the launch of its new Master of Science in Integrated Biotechnology, set to commence in Spring 2025. This innovative program aims to equip students with the essential skills and knowledge needed for a career in the rapidly evolving biotechnology sector.

For the second year, Tennessee State University hosted the state’s FBI Collegiate Academy, offering nearly 40 students an in-depth exploration of federal careers and agency operations through panels on topics like crime scene investigation, crisis negotiation, and cyber forensics, culminating in resume workshops and certificates of completion.

our community in numbers

• The number of Black lawyers were 5% of the profession in 2014 and 5% in 2024. That is far less than the percentage of Black people in the U.S. population (13.7%).

• In 2023, the National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP), “the nation’s report card,” showed that 43% of fourth graders in the U.S. scored at or above a proficient rate. Only 17% of Black students, 21% of Latino students, 11% of students with disabilities, and 10% of multilingual learners can read proficiently by fourth grade.

black history in quotes 

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culture

Spelman College welcomes award-winning filmmaker Shola Lynch as the Diana King Endowed Professor in Film, Filmmaking, Television, & Related Media and director of the documentary film program, known for her acclaimed documentaries “Free Angela & All Political Prisoners” and “Chishom ’72: Unbought & Unbossed.”

Our editor, Lisa D.Tinsley, would like to thank you for spending part of your day with KISA News Radio.

See you next Sunday.

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