We have more awareness of systemic injustice than ever before, yet the systems grow ever-more ossified and entrenched. Here are some of the ways:

• The United States has higher income inequality than any other advanced Western country. Today's levels are approaching the historic peaks seen in the 1920s prior to the Great Depression.

• The U.S. executes one of the world’s highest incarceration rates, disproportionately affecting Black and Brown communities. American slammers hold 20 percent of the global prison population despite having less than 5 percent of the world’s people.

• Aggressive deportation efforts and limitations on bail assistance entrench inequity among immigrants and economically disadvantaged people.

• Defunding of public schools and the push towards privatization threatens opportunity for low-income and minority students, exacerbating academic achievement gaps.

• Ongoing racial segregation causes concentrated poverty, lower access to essential services, and diminishes economic mobility for people of color. Discriminatory practices in lending and real estate continue to reinforce unequal access to homeownership and wealth creation.

• Black, Latino, and low-income communities have worsening access to health care.

• Restrictive voting laws, gerrymandering, and the closure of polling sites in marginalized communities limit political representation for people of color and low-income Americans.

• People of color and those in poverty endure higher rates of food insecurity, lack of access to clean water, and greater exposure to pollution and hazardous environments.

• Wage gaps, occupational segregation, and discrimination in hiring limit economic advancement for minorities and women.

• Diversity, equity, and inclusion programs are under attack, risking the marginalization of already vulnerable populations and removal of essential support structures.

• Escalating Attacks on Civil Rights Protections: Recent efforts threaten decades of civil rights gains, including proposals to limit enforcement of anti-discrimination laws, undermine voter rights, and reduce regulatory protections, disproportionately harming marginalized communities.

• Rollbacks in LGBT Rights: Many states have enacted or proposed laws that restrict rights and access to health care for LGBT—especially transgender—individuals. This includes bans on gender-affirming care for youth, restrictions on school discussions, and barriers to participation in sports, all contributing to heightened vulnerability and discrimination.

• Expansion of Child Labor: Child labor violations, especially in hazardous jobs and sectors like agriculture and food processing, have surged. Several states have recently weakened child labor protections, exposing more children (disproportionately from immigrant and low-income families) to exploitation.

• Criminalization of Poverty and Homelessness: There is a rise in policies that penalize unhoused individuals (e.g., anti-camping ordinances, fines for public sleeping), leading to forced removals and criminal records that further trap people in poverty.

• Policing and Use of Force: Police violence remains a chronic issue. Black Americans are killed by police at nearly three times the rate of White Americans. Most police departments do not report data on use of force, hindering accountability.

• Voter Suppression, Gerrymandering, and Weakening of Electoral Institutions: In addition to restrictive voting laws, recent threats include efforts to politicize the Census, which could distort representation and exacerbate racial and economic disenfranchisement.
• Environmental Racism: Communities of color continue to face higher levels of exposure to pollution, hazardous waste, and climate threats, resulting in disproportionate rates of illness and displacement.

• Gender Disparities in Health and Economic Security: Women (and particularly women of color) experience persistent wage gaps, barriers to advancement, and disparities in health outcomes and access to reproductive healthcare. Attacks on reproductive rights have also intensified, directly affecting their autonomy and well-being.

• Surge in Anti-Immigrant Policies and Rhetoric: Policy proposals and enforcement actions increasingly target immigrants for mass deportation and detention, often with limited due process and access to basic protections.

• Persistently High Rates of Child and Family Poverty: One in three Black children lives in poverty, compared to fewer than one in ten White children. Disparities in household wealth and economic opportunity have barely improved, and social safety net programs face ongoing threats.

• Media Representation and Stereotypes: Persistent negative stereotypes and lack of representation in powerful media, entertainment, and policymaking posts reinforce both explicit and implicit bias, shaping public perceptions and policy responses.

• Discriminatory Financial Practices: Predatory lending, redlining, and barriers to credit for communities of color and those with low wealth perpetuate the racial wealth gap and limit generational mobility

These issues show that systemic injustice is multidimensional, touching nearly every aspect of life and evolving in response to social, political, and economic headwinds.