By Charlene Crowell As the cost of a college education continues to rise, an estimated 45 million consumers collectively owe a record $1.7 trillion dollars in student debt, according to the Federal Reserve, — a $905 billion increase in just the past decade. For Black America, the struggle to gain a college education is an even more […]
Author Archives: Charlene Crowell
Special to the AFRO
Posted inNEWS
CRL Special: President Biden Signs Bipartisan Bill to Curb Predatory Lending
Illustration depicting a computer screen capture with a payday loans concept. In recent years, consumer finance protections withered through a series of harsh attacks that either outright rejected or significantly diminished financial guard rails in the marketplace. But a new consumer victory, urged by a groundswell of support from everyday people, academicians, and bicameral legislators […]
Posted inNEWS
2021 Fair Housing: Restoring HUD rules and revenues
Race all too often determines ‘place’. And place remains a key determinant in life. Real fair housing can and must be the difference and the change. (Photo: iStockphoto / NNPA) By Charlene Crowell, NNPA Newswire Contributor The reality for Black America and other people of color is that housing has not significantly changed since the […]
Posted in!Front Page
Historic Justice Department appointment: Kristen Clarke confirmed as first Black woman to lead Civil Rights Division
Kristen Clarke, confirmed as assistant attorney general for civil rights, U. S. Department of Justice. (Courtesy Photo) First Black woman to lead Civil Rights Division Appointment Signals Hope for Black America By Charlene Crowell (TriceEdneyWire.com) – In recent years, many people of different races and ethnicities have fought against rollbacks to hard-won racial progress. From […]
Posted inBUSINESS
COVID-19 Worsens Debt Collector Harassment
(Courtesy Photo via NNPA Newswire) NNPA NEWSWIRE — Recalling its earlier research on the family wealth lost as a result of the Great Recession, the Center for Responsible Lending (CRL), holds that the effects of families of color losing $1 trillion of wealth, still hinders these same families a decade later. Until or unless regulators […]
Posted inNEWS
Wealth Gap Costs Over Last Two Decades: $2.7 Trillion in Black Income, $16 Trillion to U.S. Economy
Asserting that multiple initiatives will be required to reverse these and other long-standing trends, Citi’s report authors call on government at all levels to share a part in progressive change. (Photo: iStockphoto / NNPA) By Charlene Crowell, Senior Fellow with the Center for Responsible Lending via NNPA America’s persistent racial income and wealth gaps are […]
Posted inBUSINESS
Supreme Court Decision Jeopardizes CFPB’s Future and its Independence
A boat sinks in the Packery Channel during Hurricane Hanna, Saturday, July 25, 2020, in North Padre Island, Texas. The Category 1 storm continued to strengthen before reaching Padre Island at 5 p.m. Saturday. (Annie Rice/Corpus Christi Caller-Times via AP) By Charlene Crowell, NNPA Newswire Contributor A June 29 U.S. Supreme Court split decision represents […]
Posted inCommentary, Coronavirus, OPINION
$3 Trillion HEROES Act Promises More Relief For Consumers and Businesses
By Charlene Crowell Will the U.S. Senate act swiftly on the new legislative plan? As the nation’s Center for Disease Control (CDC) tracks the spread of COVID-19, by mid-May, at least 1.6 million infections and over 92,000 deaths occurred. This data includes all 50 states, the District of Columbia and the territories of Guam, the […]
Posted inBUSINESS, National News, NEWS
Housing Discrimination Complaints Reach 24-Year High, While HUD Rolls Back Fair Housing Rules
By Charlene Crowell, Center for Responsible Lending’s communications deputy director via BPUSA As a candidate, President Donald Trump promised that if elected, deregulation of the federal government would be an administration priority. Soon after taking the oath of office, he issued an executive order requiring all departments and agencies to eliminate two existing regulations for […]
Posted inCommentary
Debt Settlement Programs are Misleading
Charlene Crowell is a communications manager with the Center for Responsible Lending. You’ve probably heard the advertisements on urban radio urging consumers with at least $10,000 in debt to call a number right away for a financial rescue. Promising to end debt troubles by getting creditors to somehow accept less money than what is owed […]
Posted inCommentary
Tired of Predatory Student Loans? Speak Up by May 27
Are you tired of complaining to family and friends about things you feel powerless to change? Or, as college costs continue to climb and student loan debts increase, do you or someone you know feel helpless that your opinion could make a positive change? If you answered yes, know that the federal government is giving […]
Posted inCommentary
Over $90M Lost to Foreclosure Rescue Scams
Earlier this month Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette charged an organization known as Freedom by Faith Ministries with defrauding over 100 consumers in Southeast Michigan. The alleged crime: foreclosure rescue scams. Unfortunately the circumstances that led to the Michigan lawsuit represent a continuation of a disturbing trend of profiteers seeking to financially exploit the misfortunes […]