Equity & Racial Justice

Racial Justice

Systemic racism in housing, credit, employment, and other markets has long prevented consumers of color from accessing economic and wealth-building opportunities. These policies and practices lead to higher rates of poverty, lack of housing, a persistent wealth gap, community disinvestment, and other economic consequences. NCLC works to eradicate discriminatory policies and practices that have prevented consumers of color from accessing the same economic benefits as other Americans.

The Racial Health and Wealth Gap: Impact of Medical Debt on Black Families

March 9, 2022

This report discusses the intersections between the racial health gap and racial wealth gap, “charity care” or hospital financial assistance programs, and the harms of aggressive medical debt collection.

Read More about: The Racial Health and Wealth Gap: Impact of Medical Debt on Black Families
June 8, 2022
May 25, 2022

Featured

View All for Featured
Antidiscrimination Advocacy Letter to the U.S. Chamber & Bank Associations

December 1, 2022

No Silver Bullet: Using Alternative Data for Financial Inclusion and Racial Justice

June 1, 2022

Doing Special Purpose Credit Programs Right: Why Programs to Assist Black Communities Should Avoid Conventional Use of Traditional Credit Scores

February 9, 2021

Letter Supporting California’s AB 1186, The REPAIR Act, on Youth Restitution

March 23, 2023

Letter to the Appraisal Foundation Regarding Declination of Invitation to Join the Council to Advance Residential Equity

February 3, 2023

Amicus Brief in Chamber v. CFPB

December 23, 2022

NCLC’s Comments to HUD regarding Small Dollar Lending

December 5, 2022

Group Comments Supporting the Inclusion of New Demographic Data to the CFPB Complaint Intake Form

November 3, 2022

Comments to the White House on Equitable Data Engagement and Accountability

October 3, 2022

Comments & Letters

View All for Comments & Letters
Letter to the Appraisal Foundation Regarding Declination of Invitation to Join the Council to Advance Residential Equity

February 3, 2023

NCLC’s Comments to HUD regarding Small Dollar Lending

December 5, 2022

Antidiscrimination Advocacy Letter to the U.S. Chamber & Bank Associations

December 1, 2022

Group Comments Supporting the Inclusion of New Demographic Data to the CFPB Complaint Intake Form

November 3, 2022

Comments to the White House on Equitable Data Engagement and Accountability

October 3, 2022

Group Letter Calling on President Biden to Cancel Federal Student Debt Immediately Via Executive action

May 27, 2022

Group Letter Regarding First Generation Down Payment Assistance

October 26, 2021

Group Comments on LEP, Origination, Servicing, and Tenancy in Response to the FHFA Request for Input for the Enterprises’ Equitable Housing Finance Plans

October 25, 2021

Group Comments on LEP, Origination, Servicing, and Tenancy in Response to the FHFA Request for Input for the Enterprises’ Equitable Housing Finance Plans

October 25, 2021

Reports

View All for Reports
The Racial Health and Wealth Gap: Impact of Medical Debt on Black Families

March 9, 2022

Time to Stop Racing Cars: The Role of Race and Ethnicity in Buying and Using a Car

April 15, 2021

Gainful Employment: A Civil Rights Perspective

October 1, 2019

Report: Inequitable Judgments – Examining Race and Federal Student Loan Collection Lawsuits

April 16, 2019

Toxic Transactions: How Land Installment Contracts Once Again Threaten Communities of Color

July 14, 2016

Credit Scoring and Insurance: Costing Consumers Billions and Perpetuating the Economic Racial Divide

June 18, 2007

Issue Briefs

View All for Issue Briefs
No Silver Bullet: Using Alternative Data for Financial Inclusion and Racial Justice

June 1, 2022

Unfinished Business: Roadmap for an Equitable Economic Recovery in 2022

March 2, 2022

Doing Special Purpose Credit Programs Right: Why Programs to Assist Black Communities Should Avoid Conventional Use of Traditional Credit Scores

February 9, 2021

2021 Foreclosure Prevention and Mortgage Lending Priorities: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

November 1, 2020

Borrowing from Our Future: The Case for Cancelling Student Debt

August 10, 2020

Racial Disparities in Consumer Debt Collection

August 4, 2020

A Looming Crisis: Black Communities at Greatest Risk

July 1, 2020

Past Imperfect: How Credit Scores and Other Analytics “Bake In” and Perpetuate Past Discrimination

May 3, 2016

Testimony

View All for Testimony
Letter Supporting California’s AB 1186, The REPAIR Act, on Youth Restitution

March 23, 2023

Testimony During “Examining Discrimination in the Automobile Loan and Insurance Industries”

May 1, 2019

Press Releases

View All for Press Releases
Student Debt Cancellation Will Help Fix Broken Student Loan System, Close Racial Wealth Gap

June 8, 2022

NCLC Stands with the Black Community in Buffalo and Remains Committed to Advocating for Economically Marginalized Communities

May 31, 2022

SafeRent Solutions Accused of Illegally Discriminating Against Black and Hispanic Rental Applicants

May 25, 2022

New Report Examines Impact of Medical Debt on Black Families

March 14, 2022

LDF and NCLC Urge DeKalb County, Georgia, to Delay Lifting Water Disconnection Moratorium, Implement Stronger Protections Against Shutoffs

May 26, 2021

The National Consumer Law Center Stands with the Asian American Pacific Islander Community and Condemns the Hate-Fueled Violence in Atlanta

March 23, 2021

Advocates Applaud Senate Bill Fund to Help Millions of Families Keep Their Homes; Urge Inclusion In COVID Stimulus Bill

February 5, 2021

Leading Civil Rights Groups Commend President Joe Biden’s Executive Action to Advance Fair Housing and Racial Equity 

January 26, 2021

National Consumer Law Center Statement on the Capitol Siege and Our Commitment to Racial Equity as We Celebrate the Life and Work of Martin Luther King, Jr.

January 15, 2021

Amicus Briefs

View All for Amicus Briefs
Amicus Brief in Chamber v. CFPB

December 23, 2022

Amicus Brief in Pearson v. Hodgson

October 12, 2021

Amicus Brief in Massachusetts Fair Housing Center and Housing Works, Inc. v. HUD

October 13, 2020

Amicus Brief in Comcast Corp. v. National Association of African American-Owned Media, et.al.

September 30, 2019

Amicus Brief in Comcast v. National Association of African American-Owned Media

September 30, 2019

Amicus Brief in Bostock v. Clayton County

July 3, 2019

From the NCLC Digital Library

Credit Discrimination

An in-depth examination of federal and state discrimination laws that have a powerful application in maximizing claims in consumer cases, including the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA), Fair Housing Act, several Civil Rights Acts, state discrimination statutes, and more.

Read Chapter One

Support NCLC

Please support NCLC's work to advance consumer rights and economic justice with a tax-deductible contribution today!

Donate