By Lee Hubbard
Black life in the San Francisco Bay Area is at a critical moment in 2026. Bills are high, job loss is rising, and health issues impact Black people on a daily basis. These issues were addressed at the Urban League of the Greater San Francisco Bay Area’s Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast recently at UCSF’s Robertson Auditorium.
The MLK Breakfast was attended by more than 400 people, and the results of the survey were released to the public. Commissioned by Evitarus, a public opinion research group, the survey gauged the experiences of Black Bay Area residents at this moment. It found that 3 out of 5 Black Bay Area residents — 59 percent — had difficulty with the rising cost of housing and paying weekly and monthly bills.
“The State of the Black Bay Area report tells us that too many Black families are behind in the Bay Area,” said Kenneth Maxey II, president and CEO of the Bay Area Urban League. “A Bay Area with Black communities can thrive without being pushed out or driven out.”
Over the past 20 years, the decline of Black residents in the Bay Area has been dramatic, largely attributed to rising housing costs. In 2005, the Black population in San Francisco was 8 percent; by 2025, it had fallen to 5 percent. In Oakland, the Black population declined from 33 percent in 2005 to 20 percent in 2025. In San Jose, it went from 3 percent to 2 percent. In Richmond, the Black population dropped from 36 percent in 2005 to 15 percent in 2025.
The population decline can also be seen in smaller surrounding cities such as Berkeley, Hayward, East Palo Alto, and Marin City. The only place where the Black population stayed the same or grew was Antioch, where it increased from 16 percent in 2005 to 19 percent in 2025.
“The convening of the State of the Black Bay Area by the Urban League was very important,” said the Rev. Devon Jerome Crawford of Third Baptist Church in San Francisco, who attended the event.
“We are seeing attempts to erase our history and the displacement of Black people in Black neighborhoods throughout the Bay Area,” Crawford continued. “We need to recommit ourselves and focus on a path forward, as we are in critical times.”
The Urban League was founded in New York City in 1910 as a national organization dedicated to providing economic empowerment, equality, and social justice for Black people.
“The Urban League has been a Black legacy institution that has fought for economic parity for over a century,” Crawford said. “I think it is important we have legacy institutions that connect our present struggle with economic parity, especially for Black people. We have to build on what the Urban League has done, as it is a proven institution that has been fighting for our existence.”
In the past, the Bay Area Urban League was a prominent organization under the leadership of Percy Steele, who served as executive director from 1964 to 1990. Steele was succeeded by Carole Watson, who led the organization in the late 1990s. Now under Maxey’s leadership, the organization has been revitalized and is focusing on ensuring Black businesses and Black residents receive greater opportunities in the San Francisco Bay Area.
“Black Californians face a lot of barriers,” said Maxey, adding that these barriers are more pronounced in the Bay Area. In the State of the Black Bay Area survey, 33 percent of respondents reported being impacted by job loss, and 34 percent of Black residents are currently looking for employment. In December 2025, the national unemployment rate was 4.4 percent. For Black Americans, however, the unemployment rate was 6.9 percent.
While the unemployment rate remains higher for Black residents, the survey stated that many in the Bay Area believe there is a path to lowering the unemployment gap. It found that 79 percent — nearly 4 in 5 respondents — believe completing a certificate or credential-based program is the correct pathway to finding a better job and career.
Solutions to make life easier for Black residents in the Bay Area include building more affordable housing and expanding opportunities for homeownership. Another proposed solution is combating the homelessness crisis. In California, 30 percent of the homeless population is Black. Ultimately, the study reported that more economic opportunities need to be created so Black residents can better manage rising inflation and the cost of living.
After the survey was released, two panels were convened to address other key issues identified in the report. One focused on health care. Forty-four percent of respondents — roughly 2 in 5 — reported difficulty finding a counselor, therapist, or mental health care provider.
“This area is different regarding health care than other parts of the country,” said Deborah Wafer, executive director of Gilead Services. “Costs are an issue, as well as stigma and reluctance to talk openly about these issues. Being upfront can help improve health outcomes.”
The second panel addressed economic issues in the Bay Area and emerging careers in STEM and artificial intelligence.
Following the panels, a 2026 gubernatorial candidate forum was held featuring Democratic candidates running to succeed California Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Candidates in attendance included Xavier Becerra, former U.S. secretary of health and human services; Katie Porter, former U.S. representative for District 47; Tom Steyer, entrepreneur; Antonio Villaraigosa, former mayor of Los Angeles; Betty Yee, former state controller; Tony Thurmond, California superintendent of public instruction; and Ian Calderon, former majority leader of the California Assembly.
