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The Student Debt Crisis Is a Racial Inequity Issue
Many struggle with student loan debt, especially borrowers of color
President-elect Joe Biden has already vowed to eliminate student loan debt “immediately” after entering office — post-grads across the country rejoiced. Anyone who’s ignored a dreaded phone call from Navient knows the struggle and stress of student loan debt, especially borrowers of color.
Suzanne Kahn, director of education, jobs, and worker power and the Great Democracy Initiative at the Roosevelt Institute explains to ZORA:
“Because Black and Brown students typically have less family wealth to draw on when they start school, they take out larger loans; when Black and Brown students graduate, they face racial discrimination in wages and job placement that make it more difficult to pay off their loans.”
That inability to pay can lead to fewer financial opportunities and freedoms for Black and Brown people in a society where we are already at a disadvantage.
Read more about the racial impact of the student loan crisis in ZORA, Medium’s publication for, by, and about Black women.
