Vital Signs: Statistics That Measure the State of Racial Inequality

In each issue, The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education collects statistics bearing on the relative positions of blacks and whites in American society. Some of these statistics are  interesting but not particularly important whereas others are highly relevant and critical to the overall measurement of racial progress.

• Median earnings in 2006 of a white American aged 25 to 34 who held a bachelor’s degree but no higher degree: $45,000
• Median earnings in 2006 of an African American aged 25 to 34 who held a bachelor’s degree but no higher degree: $37,000
(U.S. Department of Education)

• Median earnings in 2006 of a white American aged 25 to 34 who held a master’s degree: $50,000
• Median earnings in 2006 of an African American aged 25 to 34 who held a master’s degree: $50,000
(U.S. Department of Education)

• Percentage of parents of white schoolchildren in grades 6 through 12 who expect to help pay for their child’s college education: 87%
• Percentage of parents of African-American schoolchildren in grades 6 through 12 who expect to help pay for their child’s college education: 76%
(U.S. Department of Education)

• Percentage of all Major League baseball players in 1995 who were African American: 19.0%
• Percentage of all Major League baseball players today who are African American: 8.2% (Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport, University of Central Florida)

• Percentage of white parents whose children are enrolled in urban public schools who state that “race is not a factor in the success of children at my child’s school”: 71.8%
• Percentage of black parents whose children are enrolled in urban public schools who state that “race is not a factor in the success of children at my child’s school”: 72.8%
(National School Boards Association)

• Percentage of all white high school graduates in 2006 who went on to enroll in college that fall: 68.5%
• Percentage of all African-American high school graduates in 2006 who went on to enroll in college that fall: 55.5%
(U.S. Department of Education)

• Percentage of all whites ages 25 to 29 in 2007 who had completed high school: 93.5%
• Percentage of all African Americans ages 25 to 29 in 2007 who had completed high school: 87.7%
(U.S. Department of Education)

• Percentage of whites ages 25 to 29 in 2007 who had completed at least some college-level coursework: 65.6%
• Percentage of African Americans ages 25 to 29 in 2007 who had completed at least some college-level coursework: 50.0%
(U.S. Department of Education)

• Percentage of all white females ages 25 to 29 in 2007 who had completed a bachelor’s degree: 39.2%
• Percentage of all African-American females ages 25 to 29 in 2007 who had completed a bachelor’s degree: 20.0%
(U.S. Department of Education)

• African-American percentage of all students in U.S. public schools in 2006: 15.6%
• African-American percentage of all students in U.S. private schools in 2006: 9.5%
(U.S. Department of Education)

• Percentage of black public school students in the United States who attend school where 75 percent or more of all students are members of minority groups: 50.1%
• Percentage of white public school students in the United States who attend schools where 75 percent or more of all students are members of minority groups: 3.2%
(U.S. Department of Education)

• African-American percentage of all students in U.S. public schools in the northeastern states in 2006: 14.7%
• African-American percentage of all students in U.S. public schools in the midwestern states in 2006: 13.2%
• African-American percentage of all students in U.S. public schools in the western states in 2006: 5.1%
• African-American percentage of all students in U.S. public schools in the southern states in 2006: 24.5%
(U.S. Department of Education)

• Total number of African-American students enrolled in graduate schools in 1990: 84,000
• Total number of African-American students enrolled in graduate schools in 2006: 247,000
(U.S. Department of Education)

• African-American percentage of all students enrolled in graduate schools in 1990: 5.3%
• African-American percentage of all students enrolled in graduate schools in 2006: 11.1%
(U.S. Department of Education)

• Total number of African-American students enrolled in professional schools in 1990: 16,000
• Total number of African-American students enrolled in professional schools in 2006: 27,000
(U.S. Department of Education)

• African-American percentage of all students enrolled in professional schools in 1990: 5.8%
• African-American percentage of all students enrolled in professional schools in 2006: 7.8%
(U.S. Department of Education)

• Percentage of black children ages 5 to 17 in 1979 whose parents had completed a college education: 4.9%
• Percentage of black children ages 5 to 17 in 2006 whose parents had completed a college education: 21.2%
(U.S. Department of Education)

• Percentage of white adults who own a pet: 67%
• Percentage of African-American adults who own a pet: 35%
(Harris Poll)

Note: Boldface type suggests items of positive or important change.

JBHE Past Vital Statistics

• Issue No. 59 – Spring 2008
• Issue No. 58 – Winter 2007/08
• Issue No. 57 – Autumn 2007
• Issue No. 55 – Spring 2007
• Issue No. 54 – Winter 2006/07
• Issue No. 53 – Autumn 2006
• Issue No. 52 – Summer 2006
• Issue No. 51 – Spring 2006
• Issue No. 50 – Winter 2005/2006
• Issue No. 49 – Autumn 2005