Racial Equity in Dallas, Texas

The word equity is often referenced when discussing government policies, but what is equity?

• Equity means that each person has the resources and services necessary to thrive in each person’s own unique identities, circumstances, and histories.
• Equity focuses on eliminating disparities while improving outcomes for all.
• Racial equity is a situation that is achieved when people are thriving and neither race nor ethnicity statistically dictates, determines, or predicts one's social outcome or ability to thrive.

What is the difference between equality and equity?

Equity differs from equality in that it accounts for people’s unique identities, circumstances and histories as well as different experiences with systems and institutions.

 _{Source: Image provided by City of Dallas Office of Equity and Inclusion and City of Dallas Communications, Outreach & Marketing Department} 

Per the  2019 Dallas Equity Indicators Report , historical inequities are "historical policies and actions that have shaped inequitable conditions present today." These historical inequities should be acknowledged and addressed through a thoughtful process of working towards equity.

Click inside the map to expand.

Spatial data for the location of freedom colonies was provided by  The Texas Freedom Colonies Project™ .

The video below showcases the propaganda used to target Indigenous people and encourage participation in the Indian Relocation Program.

What are the Impacts?

The following section of maps and images compares various demographic information like median income and the HOLC grade for the area. The four grade from 'Best' to worst are A, B, C, and D. The darker areas of the maps indicate areas with high vulnerability, or communities with greatest need.

Map of Historically Redlined Areas (Left) and Median Household Income (Right)

The map below offers a quick view of historic redlined areas on the left, and median income from the US Census Bureau (ACS Data 2020) on the right. The swipe tool in the center allows for a quick comparison of the map areas.

The darker shaded green areas represent areas with higher vulnerability with the lowest median incomes.

You can interact with and click on the map to learn more about the areas. View the legend by clicking the black button found on the bottom-left corner of the map.

The map image below shows where the areas with low median household incomes overlap with redlined areas that were graded as "Declining" or "Hazardous."

Map of Historically Redlined Areas (Left) and Equity Impact Assessment Scores (Right)

The map below offers a quick view of historic redlined areas on the left, and the 2022 Equity Impact Assessment (EIA) Score on the right.

Serving as the City's call to action to bridge equity, the  EIA tool  was designed to assess the overall socioeconomic conditions of areas of the city by combining the following key factors: race, economic status, and age. The EIA Score ranges from 1 to 5 with 5 representing lowest impact to highest impact, respectively.

The swipe tool in the center of the map below allows for a quick comparison of the map areas. Census tracts shaded in dark purple represent areas with high impact and inequity.

View the legend by clicking the black button found on the bottom-left corner of the map.

The map image below shows where the areas with low median household incomes overlap with redlined areas that were graded as "Declining" or "Hazardous."

Map of Historically Redlined Areas (Left) and Social Vulnerability Index (Right)

The map below offers a quick view of historic redlined areas on the left, and 2018 Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) Scores from the Center for Disease Control on the right. Social Vulnerability refers to the potential negative effects on communities caused by external stresses on human health. The swipe tool in the center allows for a quick comparison of the map areas.

The Overall SVI Rank ranges from 0 to 1.0, with 1.0 representing the highest vulnerability. Areas shaded dark blue indicate highly vulnerable areas.

View the legend by clicking the black button found on the bottom-left corner of the map.

The map image below shows where the highly vulnerable areas, in regards to equity, overlap with redlined areas that were graded as "Declining" or "Hazardous."

Map of 2017 Bond and Capital Improvement Project Costs (Left) and Total Counts (Right) in relation to Equity Impact Assessment Scores

What is a bond? Bonds are a form of public financing usually associated with land improvements or infrastructure that generally enhance land value, such as roads, schools, and utility services. A capital improvement project is any major improvement to City facilities and infrastructure.

The map below shows the project cost and count information, provided by the Department of Public Works, for projects funded through the City. On the left are green clustered points showing project dollar amounts in the City in relation to the number of projects. For example, one cluster may appear larger in size than another and show a smaller amount of funds, this would mean that there are more projects in that cluster but fewer funds allocated. The map on the right with purple cluster points depicts the number of projects in each cluster only.

Swiping back and forth allows for a view into the dollar amount intended to be spent, and a view at the number of projects throughout the city. The pink shaded areas represent the Equity Impact Assessment Score for Fiscal Year 2022-2023 by census tract. The census tracts in dark pink shades indicate areas of high vulnerability.

Click on the tracts and circles to interact with the data, and view additional information about the area. View the legend by clicking the black button found on the bottom-left corner of the map.

The latest 2024 bond project process incorporated data to identify disparities and areas of need.

City of Dallas is Advancing Equity Through Policy Change

The following interactive applications show the rich diversity of Dallas residents city-wide as well as by council district.

Racial and Ethnic Populations by Dallas Council District for Years 2010 and 2020

City of Dallas Office of Equity and Inclusion (OEI)

The goal of the Office of Equity & Inclusion (OEI) is to support City government in understanding, addressing, and dismantling racism and how it affects human and social services, economic development, and public safety. Using disaggregated data analysis, inclusive community engagement, and accountability to the public, OEI works across city departments to operationalize equity to improve outcomes for all Dallas residents.

The Dallas Equity Indicators project is a collaboration among the City of Dallas, the City University of New York’s Institute for State and Local Governance (CUNY ISLG), and the Center for Public Policy Priorities (CPPP). It is intended to be used as a comprehensive tool to help Dallas understand and measure progress toward equity across the various communities it serves.

The report provides an insight into OEI and what the department's initiatives are in its path towards equity.

The EIA tool is designed to help people assess the overall impacts of areas of the city by combining these three key risk factors: race, economic status, and age.

The Equity Atlas is an interactive resource that provides city departments, elected officials, residents, and other key stakeholders with a detailed look at Dallas communities based on a number of selected factors that impact residents.

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