Hunger hits Black communities harder

The Black community consistently faces hunger at higher rates than whites due to social, economic, and environmental challenges. In 2021, nearly 20% of Black individuals experienced food insecurity - almost three times the rate of white households.

Black communities face hunger at a higher rate than other communities

  • Discriminatory policies and practices have led Black people to be more likely to live in poverty and more likely to face unemployment. They have fewer financial resources like savings or property than their white counterparts. All of these factors increase someone's likelihood of experiencing hunger.
  • According to the USDA, in 2021, nearly 20% of Black individuals lived in a food insecure household. In addition, Black people are almost three times as likely to face hunger as white individuals.
  • Black children are more likely to experience hunger than children of other races. According to the USDA, in 2021, 22% of Black children lived in food insecure households. Black children were almost three times as likely to face hunger than white children.
  • While the United States has an overall poverty rate of 11.6%, within the Black community, the poverty rate is 19.5%. Meanwhile, poverty in the non-Hispanic, white community is 8.1%.

Hunger in Black Communities Across America

20%

of Black individuals lived in food insecure households in 2021.

22%

of Black children lived in food insecure households in 2021.

3

times more likely to face hunger than white individuals.