Giving Compass' Take:

• The Root examines a recent report from the Samuel DuBois Cook Center on Social Equity that delves into 10 pervasive myths on racial wealth disparity and dispels each one.

• What we can learn from the report is to make ourselves more aware of the REAL problems facing Black Americans and the ways we can use our understanding to help close economic gaps.

• Here's how philanthropy can approach racial equity initiatives.

Much has been reported about the racial wealth gap — but much is still misunderstood. A new report on the wealth gap focuses on the stubborn, pervasive myths that inform people’s understanding of America’s racial wealth disparity — and points readers in the direction of real solutions.

The report, “What We Get Wrong About Closing the Racial Wealth Gap” (pdf), highlights 10 common myths that shape people’s views of the racial wealth gap and dismantles them. These include well-meaning but misplaced solutions — like the belief that higher education, better jobs, homeownership, buying black or banking black, entrepreneurship, a greater emphasis on saving or greater personal responsibility would help close the deep wealth divide between black families and other Americans.

he study begins by noting that educational attainment has no impact on closing the wealth gap.

“At every level of educational attainment, black families’ median wealth is substantially lower than their white counterparts,” the report reads, observing that this is true even when comparing different levels of educational achievement. For example, a black household with a college-educated head has less wealth, on average, than a white household whose head didn’t even obtain a high school diploma.

Read the full article about dispelling common myths behind the racial wealth gap by Anne Branigin at theroot.com.