Racial Progress Report 2017: Which States Have Made the Most Progress

When it comes to racial progress, Connecticut has room for improvement, according to a new report from the personal financial website WalletHub.

The state was ranked 20th out of the 50 states and District of Columbia in racial progress, when comparing "three key dimensions: 1) Employment & Wealth, 2) Education & Civic Engagement and 3) Health." Connecticut fared worse as it relates to racial integration, 36th.

This week, Americans observe Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, in honor of the slain, iconic civil rights leader, which prompted WalletHub to release the report.

"In 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., shared with the world his dream of a colorblind society — one that focuses on his children’s character, not on their complexion," writes author Richie Bernardo. "America has certainly come closer to realizing Dr. King’s vision though segregation and discrimination persist."

Recent fatal confrontations between police and blacks, and the election of President-Elect Donald Trump, have helped push racial discussions to the forefront, WalletHub states, and the report looks at the "current integration level of whites and blacks, zeroing in on 16 different metrics.

Among the criteria WalletHub studied includes the rates of homeownership, rates of infant mortality, and share of residents with at least a Bachelor's Degree.

To read the full methodology, click here.

The top five states in racial progress, in order, are Georgia, New Jersey, Maryland, Mississippi and Wyoming, according to WalletHub. The top five for racial integration are Hawaii, Idaho, Kentucky, Texas and Delaware.

At the other end of the spectrum, the bottom five states for racial progress are Maine (worst), South Dakota, Vermont, Iowa and Minnesota. For racial integration, the worst is District of Columbia, followed by Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota and Iowa, according to WalletHub.

"Nonetheless, it’s important to emphasize the racial harmony we’ve achieved — in our workplaces, in our schools, in our voting booths," the website adds.

Photo: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Monument. Photo credit: Pixabay