Our Issues
Education
The Black Institute seeks to expand educational opportunities to all communities. A quality education–consisting of great teachers, active parents, outstanding principals, out of the box thinkers, stellar curriculum, safe learning environments and the expectation and treatment of all students as scholars–is critical to closing the gap between a segregated and unequal education. Educational opportunities also include increasing and expanding the arts and culture in all communities, primarily low-income communities of color.
Knowledge
TBI has researched the numerous challenges that immigrants and people of color face in the education system. Their reports have examined teachers in the Caribbean community as well as immigrant communities across the city.
Dream Deferred / Black, Invisible & Undocumented: The Plight of Caribbean Immigrant Youth
All Races, All Faces: A Guide to NYC Immigrant Communities
Leadership
Since Spring of 2018, TBI has been working on the Ovation TV campaign entitled “Bringing the Arts: Stand for Ovation.” Altice, the parent company of Optimum, has chosen not to carry the Ovation TV channel rather than make a good faith effort to work towards an agreement that would provide Optimum customers with Ovation TV, which provide curated and arts-related series, specials, documentaries, films, original programming and original productions.
Community
In early 2018, TBI launched the STARZ campaign to bring back the hit television show “POWER,” which is the most-watched show among minorities on cable television, after Optimum Cable took it off the air. TBI successfully ran a social media campaign and grassroots canvassing effort that led to Optimum putting STARS and POWER back on cable television. Read More.
Economic fairness
Economic fairness for people of color consists of the capacity of all people to earn a decent living and the health of discussing money, business, entrepreneurship, developing capital, running successful innovative businesses and attaining leadership positions in various and numerous business industries. The health and wealth of Black communities depends on the attainment of education and understanding and leveraging economic resources.
Knowledge
TBI has research to present real evidence of the struggles faced by M/WBEs. Through these reports, TBI has been able to have more substantial discussions with lawmakers and other advocates in the quest to ensure they have access to better resources.
Not Good Enough: The Myth of ‘Good Faith’ and ‘Best Efforts’ / Report on Minority- and Women-Owned Businesses
Access Denied: MWBE Capital and Credit Discrimination in New York
The One Percent Solution: Unlocking Access to Capital for New York’s Minority- and Women-Owned Businesses
Leadership
In 2015, TBI held a series of town hall meetings in partnership with elected officials and other advocates to discuss how to provide more resources to minority and women owned business enterprises. TBI also held forums in Albany to educate state lawmakers on the issues affecting M/WBEs in 2016. These listening sessions helped educate both lawmakers and the public understand the importance of M/WBEs in the state and the challenges that they face.
Community
TBI has been an important advocate for minority and women owned business enterprises and has campaigned New York City and State to provide better resources for M/WBEs. In 2015, a TBI campaign on the issue resulted in a commitment from the city to award $16 billion in contracts to M/WBEs over the next ten years. The campaign also resulted in the appointment of a senior advisor for M/WBEs and establishment of the Emerging Developer Loan fund to provide low-interest loans on New York City-based development projects.
Environmental justice
Scholars believe that a combination of a lack of awareness and a relative lack of political and economic influence makes minority communities frequent targets for environmentally hazardous activities. The Black Institute supports and embraces the fair treatment of Black people and all people in all facets of life, therefore we embrace the concept of Environmental Justice. Environmental Justice stands for the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation and enforcement of environmental laws.
Knowledge
In 2018, TBI penned a report, “Poison Parks,” revealing the use of a toxic herbicide used by the New York City Parks Department. The report encourages legislation that would ban the use and sale of glyphosate to protect the wellbeing of the public, especially the children, the elderly, and pets who are frequent park users. This report built a 2016 initiative TBI partnered on to create an interactive map for New Yorkers to find which parks this toxic herbicide is used in.
Leadership
Following a proposed regressive tax on plastic bags that would adversely affect working families and seniors TBI worked to implement a pilot program to reduce litter through recycling education. Partnering with tenants’ associations at six New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) developments citywide, TBI worked to bring at least one program site to each borough. The initiative fused education and art to inform young NYCHA residents about the benefits of recycling in their communities and the ease of recycling plastic bags
Community
The Black Institute has worked on the ground, especially in low income communities, against environmental racism, to keep communities healthy. In 2014, TBI took on the City of New York when it decided to open a waste transfer station on the Upper East Side of Manhattan with truck routes through a NYCHA development. With tens of thousands of children living in the area, the risk of increased asthma rates due to an increase in trucks traveling through the area was a real concern. TBI organized tenants other residents, giving them a voice to fight back against the original plans for the site and the neighborhood surrounding it.
Immigration reform
The national debate currently ongoing and fueled by the policies of the Trump Administration primarily frames immigration as a border issue. According to a Population Reference Bureau report, “Immigration and America’s Black Population,” the number of foreign-born U.S. Blacks increased from 125,000 in 1960 to 2,815,000 in 2005. Additionally about two-thirds of foreign-born Black people are from the Caribbean and Latin America. As a country and a city which is steadily transforming to “majority minority,” immigration issues must be discussed holistically in all levels of society, as it primarily affects the future of the country. The Black Institute aims to address issues faced by black immigrants through research, legal services, and on-the-ground support.
Knowledge
The Black Institute has published a number of reports on immigration reform and the struggles that immigrant communities face, including:
Dream Deferred / Black, Invisible & Undocumented: The Plight of Caribbean Immigrant Youth
All Races, All Faces: A Guide to NYC Immigrant Communities
Taxation Without Representation: African Immigrants in New York
Leadership
Building off of The Black Institute’s reports, TBI held an immigration panel with lawmakers in 2014 at The Schomberg Center to discuss its All Races, All Faces report. This was part of a campaign to educate lawmakers and the public about the sheer number of immigrants in New York and the different needs that they have. Prior to the 2016 election, TBI partnered with the New York Immigration Coalition to launch the Black Immigrant Engagement Initiative. This program coordinated legal support and helped register new voters.
Community
In 2018, The Black Institute is implementing an immigrant services program in the field that provides black immigrants with legal and support services. TBI is stationed in the offices of elected officials providing one-on-one assistance to those who are in legal limbo because of the rapidly changing federal immigration landscape.