How we talk about race matters more than ever.

Despite ongoing national conversations, people still lack a clear and consistent understanding of what racial equity and racial justice mean.

01 Learn

Where are we as a society?

Learn how people think and talk about racial equity and justice.

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02 Explore

What mindsets do people have?

Explore common mindsets that inform people's attitudes.

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03 Take Action

How do I begin?

Take guided action toward meaningful conversations.

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Are you familiar with the concept of racial equity?

Over the last two years, have issues of racial justice become more important, less important, or the same to you?

What words or phrases come closest to how you define 'equity'?

How often do you think about issues of racial justice?

So where are we today?

In 2019 and again in 2022, we asked thousands of adults in the United States about racial equity and justice.

Learn more about the nationally representative surveys

Since 2019, people have become slightly more familiar with the concept of racial equity.

The number of people who said they were familiar with racial equity has increased by 7 percentage points since 2019.

2019

2022

7% Increase in Familiarity

People who said “yes” when asked if they were familiar with the concept of racial equity.

But they lack a consistent understanding of what equity actually means.

We define racial equity as when life outcomes can no longer be predicted by race or ethnicity. While this defines equity by its outcomes, many respondents defined racial equity by concepts, such as opportunity, that speak only to access, not outcomes.

What comes to mind when you think about the word “equity”?

Still, a majority of people find issues of racial equity more important today than 2019.

In the survey, 56 percent of people reported that issues of racial equity have become more important to them personally.

More Important

56%

Stayed about the same

32%

Less Important

Not Sure

People reported how the importance of racial equity issues have changed.

People were more familiar with the concept of racial justice.

We define racial justice as when policies, practices, systems, and other causes of unjust outcomes for people of color are eliminated.

Respondents offered relatively consistent, straightforward, and tangible descriptions of justice when asked about their top-of-mind associations. Three in four said they were familiar with the concept of racial justice.

What comes to mind when you think about the word “justice”?

Despite their differences, people generally associate racial equity and racial justice with similar ideas.

Most respondents defined both equity and justice as equality and fairness. Frontline Activists, audiences familiar with the concepts and who believe they are very important, offered a more nuanced understanding of the concepts.

What three words or phrases come closest to how you define:

Equal Opportunity

57%

Fairness

45%

Equality

45%

Equal Access

38%

Equal Outcomes

27%

Justice

23%

Anti-Racism

16%

Inclusion

16%

People selected the ideas that, to them, most related to equity.

Fairness

55%

Equality

45%

Equal Opportunity

43%

Righting Wrongs

31%

Equal Access

28%

Equal Outcomes

26%

Anti-Racism

19%

Equity

18%

People selected the ideas that, to them, most related to justice.

The ways we talk about racial equity and racial justice matter. By saying what we mean in plain language, we can paint a clearer vision of a world that's fair and just for everyone.

More and more people are learning and caring about racial equity, but they need an accurate, compelling narrative about why it matters—to them.

We can bring people along more effectively when we understand where they're coming from.

Racial Equity Framework

This Message Manual contains research-based language and guidance for anyone communicating about racial justice and equity in education.
Message Manual

The survey revealed different groups of audiences based on their mindsets about racial equity and justice.

With this knowledge, we can tailor communications to best educate and motivate them.

34% of survey respondents

Frontline Activists

Frontline Activists are champions of advancing racial equity and justice.

Learn More

16% of survey respondents

Budding Activists

Budding Activists feel that issues of racial equity and justice are important, but they aren't confident in their knowledge about these concepts.

Learn More

34% of survey respondents

Informed Skeptics

Informed Skeptics are confident in their understanding of what racial equity and justice mean, but currently see them as buzzwords.

Learn More

8% of survey respondents

Uninformed Skeptics

Uninformed Skeptics are uncertain, have low engagement with, or ambivalence about issues of racial equity and justice.

Learn More

We're continually learning to help shape a better world.

Here's how you can help.

You might be asking, where do I even begin?

We hope this information inspires you to take action. Yes, you'll make mistakes. (We're learning, too.) And that's okay. What we do hope is that you'll be more comfortable talking about the role that race and racism play in education and American society.

The more we practice, the more we gain comfort in having difficult conversations, the greater change we can create.

Racial Equity Framework

Explore a framework for making persuasive arguments and telling compelling stories.

Read the Equity Frame

Audience Profiles

Reflect on your own awareness and attitudes toward racial equity and justice, and explore where others are in their own journeys.

Explore Profiles

Messaging Quiz

Take a short assessment to explore strategies for talking about race in your organization, community, and beyond.

Take the Quiz

Talking About
Racial Equity and Racial Justice

How we talk about race matters more than ever.

Where are we as a society?

What mindsets do people have?

How do I begin?

So where are we today?

Since 2019, people have become slightly more familiar with the concept of racial equity.

But they lack a consistent understanding of what equity actually means.

What comes to mind when you think about the word “equity”?

Still, a majority of people find issues of racial equity more important today than 2019.

People were more familiar with the concept of racial justice.

What comes to mind when you think about the word “justice”?

Despite their differences, people generally associate racial equity and racial justice with similar ideas.

The ways we talk about racial equity and racial justice matter. By saying what we mean in plain language, we can paint a clearer vision of a world that's fair and just for everyone.

More and more people are learning and caring about racial equity, but they need an accurate, compelling narrative about why it matters—to them.

Racial Equity Framework

The survey revealed different groups of audiences based on their mindsets about racial equity and justice.

Frontline Activists

Budding Activists

Informed Skeptics

Uninformed Skeptics

We're continually learning to help shape a better world.

Here's how you can help.

You might be asking, where do I even begin?

Racial Equity Framework

Audience Profiles

Messaging Quiz

What are you looking for?

Talking About Racial Equity and Racial Justice

How we talk about race matters more than ever.

Where are we as a society?

What mindsets do people have?

How do I begin?

So where are we today?

Since 2019, people have become slightly more familiar with the concept of racial equity.

But they lack a consistent understanding of what equity actually means.

What comes to mind when you think about the word “equity”?

Still, a majority of people find issues of racial equity more important today than 2019.

People were more familiar with the concept of racial justice.

What comes to mind when you think about the word “justice”?

Despite their differences, people generally associate racial equity and racial justice with similar ideas.

The ways we talk about racial equity and racial justice matter. By saying what we mean in plain language, we can paint a clearer vision of a world that's fair and just for everyone.

More and more people are learning and caring about racial equity, but they need an accurate, compelling narrative about why it matters—to them.

Racial Equity Framework

The survey revealed different groups of audiences based on their mindsets about racial equity and justice.

Frontline Activists

Budding Activists

Informed Skeptics

Uninformed Skeptics

We're continually learning to help shape a better world.Here's how you can help.

You might be asking, where do I even begin?

Racial Equity Framework

Audience Profiles

Messaging Quiz

Talking About
Racial Equity and Racial Justice

We're continually learning to help shape a better world.

Here's how you can help.