This story is part of California Voices, a commentary forum aiming to broaden our understanding of the state and spotlight Californians directly impacted by policy or its absence. Learn more here. 

Ya Yang is a graduate student at UC Davis. He is the winner of the 2025 UC Davis Center for Poverty and Inequality Research Black History Month Student Essay Contest, from which this commentary was adapted.

California is known as a land of opportunity. But that mythology masks a bleak reality for the state’s marginalized communities. 

For centuries, and for African Americans in particular, systemic racism and economic barriers have created a vicious cycle — one that demands deliberate actions through community investment. 

High poverty and crime rates in many Black communities are not products of choice. Rather, they are the results of generations of systemic racism. Schools in predominantly Black neighborhoods are chronically underfunded, with limited access to extracurricular activities, a lack of school supplies and teacher shortages. The message is obvious: society places less value in the education of Black children than in that of children of other ethnicities. 

Growing up in an environment where education is not a priority makes exposure to gangs, drugs and criminality more likely. Without education as a stepping stone, low-paying jobs become the only option. These jobs tie families to impoverished neighborhoods, perpetuating a cycle of poverty that spans generations. 

This is not just an unfortunate set of circumstances — it is structural violence. The system reinforces social harms caused by racial and economic differences, conveying that some lives are worth less than others. No wonder inequality in Black communities often feels insurmountable — the system was built to keep it that way. 

But here’s the thing: it’s not too late to start investing in these communities. 

Take education, for example. Fully funding schools in underserved neighborhoods is not just buying new textbooks and computers. It’s about giving children a dream and a chance to imagine a life beyond the block they grew up on. Teachers need adequate wages, resources and support structures in order to foster their students’ personal and professional growth. Curricula must reflect the diverse histories and experiences of the communities they serve. 

A robust education system doesn’t just benefit Black children — it uplifts entire communities and strengthens California’s future. When the Black community thrives, all marginalized groups benefit. 

It’s a step towards equity and justice for all, which is a win for everyone. 

We must also promote economic empowerment. Job training programs and small business grants tailored for Black entrepreneurs can increase economic opportunities in underprivileged neighborhoods. Mental health services, substance abuse programs and youth mentorship initiatives are all essential safety nets that can help prevent families to escape the cycle of poverty.

I know this because I have lived it. While I am not Black and will never fully understand the struggles Black communities face, I have witnessed the profound impact of systemic racism and economic oppression on Black lives. Growing up as a deaf, gay, Hmong refugee in the hood, I saw my neighbors — Black, brown and immigrants — struggle with the same systemic barriers. Underfunded schools, unsafe streets, the influence of drugs, limited opportunities — these were not abstract issues but daily realities for people in my neighborhood. 

California’s leaders must recognize that investing in communities like the one I grew up in is not an act of charity. Rather, it is nonprofit work. It is justice. The state will never reduce racial and economic inequality without adequately investing in those communities in greatest need.

The plight and fight of Black Americans are interconnected with those of all marginalized groups sharing the same resources and infrastructures. Addressing the systemic barriers that harm Black Americans can create a template for dismantling inequality more broadly. It would be a win for the state’s Latino population, immigrants, the disabled, the LGBTQ community and people like me who grew up in the hood, navigating barriers over which I had no control. 

We invest in Black communities for a better California for everyone.