By Sam Wroblewski 630wpro.com

A new study by a Delaware financial publication has placed Rhode Island as the third worst state for Black Americans economically.

The study by 247wallst.com shows Rhode Island scores worse than the national average in the areas of black home ownership, household income, and unemployment. The Ocean State comes in behind Minnesota and Wisconsin who occupy first and second place.

“Only two states in the country are worse for blacks to live in? That’s an indictment of the whole state and I think that we all need to work together to make sure that we change that,” said Providence NAACP President Jim Vincent.

The most damning number in the study showed that only 29.4% of black households actually owned their home compared to 67.2% of white households. The percentage gap is wider than the national average by nearly 30 percent, according to 247wallst.com.

Vincent believes the numbers are indicative of Rhode Island’s high black unemployment which he said the state does not do enough to help.

“In terms of employment we are constantly talking to employers saying they have to provide equal access to talented people of color, and particularly African Americans; we don’t see those efforts being applied as vigorously,” said Vincent.

“We’re behind in most areas of the country, and I don’t think many people realize how dire the situation is.”