360 Things to Know About the Black Population

This document presents a comprehensive survey framework for collecting data on the Black population across multiple countries, communities, and social groups. It is designed as a structured list of questions that can support research, policy development, community profiling, programme design, advocacy, and data collection through the Black Data and Information Portal.

The document is organized into 26 major thematic sections, covering the most important areas of social, economic, cultural, political, and environmental life. These include demographics, poverty, hunger and nutrition, health and well-being, education, gender equality, water and sanitation, employment, housing, technology access, discrimination, justice, civic participation, entrepreneurship, spending, wealth, financial inclusion, travel, lifestyle, cultural identity, political representation, environmental justice, digital access, social capital, and child welfare.

At its core, the document functions as a survey question bank. Each section contains questions that can be used to understand the lived realities of Black people in areas such as income, employment, health, education, housing, banking, discrimination, political participation, business ownership, internet access, family structure, and community support. For example, the poverty section asks about household income, difficulty meeting basic needs, borrowing money for living expenses, rent or mortgage arrears, and whether respondents consider their household to be living in poverty.

A major strength of the document is that it links Black population research to broader development issues. Many of the sections align closely with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including poverty reduction, food security, health, education, gender equality, decent work, inequality reduction, access to technology, environmental justice, and strong institutions. This makes the questionnaire useful not only for academic research, but also for governments, non-profits, international organizations, and community-based institutions.

The document also places strong emphasis on racial discrimination and inequality. It includes questions on racial profiling, unfair treatment in employment, housing discrimination, loan denial, policing, public safety, and whether Black people are treated fairly by the justice system. It also explores discrimination in daily life, including experiences in stores, workplaces, schools, public spaces, and interactions with police or security.

Another important focus is economic empowerment. The document includes sections on employment, entrepreneurship, spending, wealth and asset ownership, financial inclusion, banking access, credit, savings, insurance, business ownership, profitability, and access to loans. These questions can help identify the economic strengths and barriers facing Black communities and support evidence-based strategies for wealth creation.

The document also captures cultural identity and community life, asking about connection to African roots, cultural traditions, ancestral language, cultural festivals, pride in identity, religious participation, extended family networks, community belonging, loneliness, and access to support in times of need. This makes the tool valuable because it does not treat Black communities only through the lens of poverty or disadvantage; it also recognizes identity, resilience, heritage, social capital, and community support.

In summary, this document is a practical and wide-ranging research instrument for understanding the Black population in a holistic way. It provides a structured foundation for building surveys, dashboards, reports, policy briefs, and data portals on Black communities. Its main purpose is to help researchers and decision-makers collect better data, identify inequalities, measure progress, support advocacy, and design policies and programmes that respond to the real needs, experiences, and aspirations of Black people.