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"The nature of environmental problems is bound up in the history of race in America."

Twelve years after starting college, white men have paid off 44% of their student loan balances on average, while black men saw their balances grow by 11%, according to an analysis from Demos.

“The inequality between the haves and the have-nots is going to grow even more.”

Twelve years after starting college, the white female borrower has paid off 72% of her loan balance. Over the same time period, the typical Black female borrower's balance has grown by 13%.

Gulf Coast communities face the same environmental and racial injustices they faced during Hurricane Katrina—except now with the overlapping crises of COVID-19, economic collapse, and uprisings for Black Lives. Policy change must undo this injustice.

"Imagine any financial transaction you make and someone says the price of this thing is $100,000, but you are very likely to pay nothing, but first you have to fill out all these forms."

Now is the perfect time to talk about the federal government making a firm, durable guarantee of free or affordable college to all students.

Proposal to Expand Funding for Low-Income Students; Increased Access to Federal Loan Program

New York, NY — Demos, a national, non-partisan, public policy and advocacy organization, in partnership with twelve national organizations representing students, colleges, consumers, and college administrators, sent a letter to Congress on Wednesday calling for increased investment in college affordability and reducing financial barriers for entry into post-secondary education.

Goal to Double the Number of Low- Income Students in the U.S. Who Earn a Postsecondary Degree by Age 26

“This is a microcosm of many intra-progressive, intra-left policy debates—whether it’s better to do something universal and achieve something with relative ease or ensure that only those struggling by some definition get relief."

“Student debt is both a cause and a consequence of the racial wealth gap."

An executive action for student debt cancellation would provide much needed economic relief to millions of Black and Latinx families in order to avoid financial catastrophe during the continuing global pandemic.

“The student debt crisis is yet another example of the deep and structural racial injustice at that heart of our economy. It prevents Black and Brown families from building wealth and economic power and has undermined the fundamental goal of higher education as a public good."

“The actual dollar amount, it’s hard to put that at a figure that’s enough to help everyone who is struggling. And because of that, I’d err on the side of doing more.”

“Most people who are in favor of big sweeping action are also in favor of the incremental reforms that would make the loan program more humane."

While Biden inspires hope, our democracy has let down Black communities for far too long.

“This stuff is hard and necessary to untangle… [but] we should actually start over.”