Report: Huge obstacles facing children of color in Nebraska, U.S.

A problem our state needs to deal with, but chooses not to take serious. This is reprinted from the Lincoln Journal article April 1, 2014. "For white kids, Nebraska provides a solid foundation for success and opportunity. But for black, Latino or Native American children in Nebraska, the odds against them are staggering, according to a Kids Count report, "Race for Results: Building a Path of Opportunity for All Children." In fact, kids of color in Nebraska fare poorer than many of their peers in other states. The report, released Tuesday, highlights the ongoing economic, educational, developmental and health disparities facing kids of color in America. While it’s hardly new news that black, Latino and Native American kids are disproportionately represented in statistics for those failing or dropping out of school, being unemployed or incarcerated, and growing up in poverty — there is an urgent need to reverse the historic trend, said Patrick McCarthy, president and CEO of the Annie E. Casey Foundation, which releases the Kids Count reports. By 2018, the majority of American kids will be of color. By 2030, people of color will represent the majority of the U.S. workforce. And by 2050, no single racial group will comprise a majority of the population, according to “Race for Results.” By continuing to fail these kids, the country is ultimately setting itself up for failure, the report indicated. The report calls for "an urgent, multi-sector approach" to developing solutions. In Nebraska, all kids of color face more barriers than the nation on average. That includes Asian-American children who as a whole outscore all racial groups in America, including whites, in well-being."