The role of race, ethnicity and tribal enrollment on asset accumulation

The authors analyse survey data from the National Asset Scorecard for Communities of Color Project for asset accumulation in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to explore the effects of race and legal status on the accrual of wealth.

Key Findings

• When considering all natives as compared to whites, the relationship is “not often statistically significant.” However, the relationships become more apparent when specific groups are disaggregated.
• Muscogee enrolled households had significantly lower assets and wealth, on par with those of black and Mexican/Hispanic households. Cherokee enrolled member households, conversely, had positions similar to those of white households.
• There is evidence of both a persistent racial wealth gap in Tulsa as well as a wealth gap among natives based on tribal affiliation.