In a political climate where debates about race, opportunity and economic mobility are often driven more by rhetoric than evidence, a new research initiative is seeking to shift the conversation with data.
The John Mercer Langston Institute for African American Political Leadership has released The Economic State of Black Men and Boys in the United States, the first publication in its new Black Men and Boys Research Series. Published in July 2026, the report provides a broad assessment of the economic conditions shaping the lives of Black men and boys, offering policymakers, educators and community leaders a data-driven foundation for addressing persistent disparities.
Authored by Wes Bellamy, Ph.D., executive director of the institute and an associate professor of political science and public administration at Virginia State University, the report was produced in partnership with the Virginia Alliance and community organizations focused on expanding economic opportunity.
The report arrives as questions surrounding educational attainment, workforce participation, wages, entrepreneurship and wealth inequality have taken on renewed urgency. Rather than relying on anecdote or political rhetoric, the report examines measurable indicators that influence economic mobility, including access to capital and long-term wealth building.
The publication is the first in a planned series that will examine the economic and civic conditions affecting Black men and boys, creating a body of research intended to inform public policy and community-based solutions.
The series is named for John Mercer Langston, the pioneering educator, attorney and political leader who became one of the first African Americans elected to public office in the United States. The institute says the name reflects its commitment to pairing scholarship with a legacy of civic leadership and public service.
Founded to operate at the intersection of research, policy and leadership development, the John Mercer Langston Institute seeks to equip educators, elected officials, nonprofit organizations and community leaders with research that can inform decision-making and help address longstanding economic disparities.
The report also highlights the continued role of Historically Black Colleges and Universities as centers of scholarship with national impact. Bellamy's leadership of the initiative reflects the long-standing HBCU tradition of combining academic research with public service, demonstrating how faculty scholarship can shape conversations well beyond campus.
The report provides a resource that can inform discussions in classrooms, businesses, nonprofit organizations and government, offering evidence to support policy decisions and community initiatives.
As additional reports are released, the research series aims to provide a deeper understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing Black men and boys while ensuring that future discussions are increasingly grounded in empirical evidence rather than assumption.