Measuring Racial Justice:Outcomes and Indicators
A few years ago, a colleague of mine—let’s call her Maria—was tasked with evaluating a racial justice programme in her city. She had all the right tools: surveys, data sets, and impact reports. Yet, when she sat down with community members, something struck her.
“The numbers say things are improving,” one Black mother told her, “but I still have to coach my son on how to act if he’s stopped by the police. So, tell me—what does ‘progress’ actually mean?”
Maria realised then that racial justice isn’t just about ticking boxes on a data sheet. It’s about lived experiences, about whether people actually feel safer, more included, and treated fairly. That’s the challenge with measuring racial justice—it’s both deeply personal and structurally systemic. So, how do we track real change? Let’s talk about the indicators that matter.
Economic Justice
Take economic justice. If we only look at employment rates, we might conclude that racial disparities in hiring have improved. But if we dig deeper—who’s getting promoted? Who has wealth to pass down? Who’s stuck in precarious, low-wage work?—we see that justice isn’t just about having a job; it’s about long-term security.
Here are some examples of economic justice indicators that you can use.
Employment and Income
Number of persons from ethnic minority groups employed in formal vs. informal sectors.
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