Report saying blacks have longer commutes — about 7 minutes longer per day — than whites in Philly is being mercilessly mocked

A report indicating that black workers in Philadelphia have longer commutes — about 7 minutes longer per day — than white workers is being mercilessly mocked.

What are the details?

Citing a report by the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, PhillyVoice noted that while black workers' commute times nationally are 5% longer than white workers' commute times, in Philadelphia black workers' commute times are 11% longer than white workers'.

The outlet said in 2019 the average one-way commute time for a white Philadelphia resident was 29.1 minutes — but for a black Philadelphia resident it was 32.5 minutes. That amounts to about 3.4 minutes longer one way and 6.8 minutes longer round trip for black Philly residents — and about 34 minutes longer over the course of a Monday-through-Friday work week.

More from PhillyVoice:

Neighborhoods with higher Black populations were found to have the longest average commutes. The connection between race and commute duration is reflective of the socio-economic landscape of the region, said Christopher Severen and Nassir Holden, the study's authors.

Lower-income Black workers experience the longest commutes. Theirs are about 40% longer than commutes experienced by lower-income white workers, according to the study.

Severen and Holden noted that Black and low-income workers are more likely to use public transit, and that white workers are more likely to be able to work from home. Both factors contribute to the variance in commute times; the study suggests that differences in where people live and how they travel to work are the most important factors in understanding racial disparities in commuting.

The outlet also said the study's authors noted that addressing racial disparities in commute times is paramount to reducing economic inequity.

How are folks reacting?

A number of commenters reacting to the PhillyVoice story roundly mocked the study:

• "Wow a whole 6 minutes a day," one commenter wrote. "Why the F is this even news."
• "No one told them about the hidden traffic lanes only whites seem to use?" another commenter quipped.
• "Dumbest article of the year," another commenter said, after which another noted, "Just you wait until tomorrow!"
• Another commenter rattled off a humorous list: "Tomorrow's story on weather: 'It rains on us more.' Thursday's story on inflation: 'Our money doesn't go as far as the white man's.' Friday's story on fall allergies: 'Pollen disproportionately affects us.' Saturday's story on healthy eating: 'Drinking soda hurts us worse.' Sunday's story on the border crisis: 'Unrestricted illegal immigration hurts us more.' Oh wait, THAT one IS true."

Not every commenter saw things that way, however. One wrote, "The so-called conservatives are having a great time making racist statements regarding black people. In another thread they will claim they aren't racist. They are here pretty much because they don't have strength of conviction or courage to speak their minds in public. ..."

But another observer met that declaration head-on, calling the aforementioned commenter the "shallowest mind in the room" and adding that "all cultures, colors, genders, religions, ages are different. Most of the time it's literally in a human's DNA. Recognizing it and speaking about it isn't racism. In fact, not speaking about it and not recognizing it usually is."

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