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.

• Percentage of all white high school seniors in 2004 elected to an academic honor society: 26.2%
• Percentage of all African-American high school seniors in 2004 elected to an academic honor society: 13.1%
(U.S. Department of Education)

• Percentage of all African-American high school seniors in 1972 who participated in a student government organization: 25.3%
• Percentage of all African-American high school seniors in 2004 who participated in a student government organization: 13.5%
(U.S. Department of Education)

• Percentage of white Americans who believe that blacks have an equal chance with whites to secure a good education: 80%
• Percentage of black Americans who believe that blacks have an equal chance with whites to secure a good education: 49%
(Gallup/USA Today poll)

• Percentage of white first-year college students in 2004 who participated in community service work: 44.1%
• Percentage of black first-year college students in 2004 who participated in community service work: 32.2%

• Among white first-year college students who did community service work, average number of hours spent per month in community service activities: 13.6
• Among black first-year college students who did community service work, average number of hours spent per month in community service activities: 21.9
 (U.S. Department of Education)

• Percentage of white students who began college in 2004 who came from families with annual incomes of at least $92,000: 28.7%
• Percentage of African-American students who began college in 2004 who came from families with annual incomes of at least $92,000: 8.8%
(U.S. Department of Education)

• Percentage of all white students who started college in 2004 who came from families whose annual income was less than $32,000: 16.1%
• Percentage of all black students who started college in 2004 who came from families whose annual income was less than $32,000: 49.1%
(U.S. Department of Education)

• Percentage of white first-year college students in 2004 who had a high-school grade point average between 3.5 and 4.0: 37.9%
• Percentage of black first-year college students in 2004 who had a high-school grade point average between 3.5 and 4.0: 16.0%
(U.S. Department of Education)

• Percentage of all white parents in 2007 who reported they checked that their children had completed their homework: 82%
 Percentage of all black parents in 2007 who reported they checked that their children had completed their homework: 94%
(U.S. Department of Education)

• Percentage of white first-year college students in 2004 who said they often talked with faculty members outside of class about academic matters: 12.0%
• Percentage of black first-year college students in 2004 who said they often talked with faculty members outside of class about academic matters: 20.8%
 (U.S. Department of Education)

• Percentage of all white American students who started either a two-year or four-year college in 2004 who by 2006 had not earned a degree and were not still enrolled in higher education: 31.2%
• Percentage of all African-American students who started either a two-year or four-year college in 2004 who by 2006 had not earned a degree and were not still enrolled in higher education: 43.4%
(U.S. Department of Education)

• Percentage of all white parents in 2007 who reported that their local school provided information on helping their children plan for college: 71%
• Percentage of all African-American parents in 2007 who reported that their local school provided information on helping their children plan for college: 63%
(U.S. Department of Education)

• Percentage of all white parents in 2007 who reported that they attended a school or class event: 80%
• Percentage of all African-American parents in 2007 who reported that they attended a school or class event: 65%
(U.S. Department of Education)

• Percentage of all white parents in 2007 who reported that they were “very satisfied” with their children’s school: 64%
• Percentage of all black parents in 2007 who reported that they were “very satisfied” with their children’s school: 47%
(U.S. Department of Education)

• Percentage of white parents of preschool children in 2007 who believe that it is important to teach their children the alphabet: 66%
• Percentage of black parents of preschool children in 2007 who believe that it is important to teach their children the alphabet: 43%
(U.S. Department of Education)

• Percentage of white parents of preschool children in 2007 who believe that it is important to teach their children about numbers: 62%
• Percentage of black parents of preschool children in 2007 who believe that it is important to teach their children about numbers: 43%
(U.S. Department of Education)

• Percentage of white parents of preschool children in 2007 who read to their children every day: 67%
• Percentage of black parents of preschool children in 2007 who read to their children every day: 35%
(U.S. Department of Education)

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

JBHE Past Vital Statistics

• Issue No. 60 – Summer 2008
• 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