Racial Gap

Report Examines the Status of Black Students’ Access to Higher Education

Authored by Frank Harris III, professor of postsecondary education at San Diego State University, and Tina King, president of the San Diego College of Continuing Education, the report draws on data from several prior studies to shed light on how institutions and policymakers can ensure "all Black students can go to college and succeed without sacrificing or leaving their cultural assets behind."'

Ranking the Nation’s Highest-Ranked Universities by Their Black Student Graduation Rates

JBHE has compiled Black student graduation rates at the nation's 30 highest-ranked universities. At 29 of the 30 universities, the Black student graduation rate is 85 percent or higher. Nineteen have Black student graduation rates of 90 percent or higher.

Despite Major Improvements, Black Women Have the Highest Breast Cancer Mortality Rates Among Women Ages 20 to 49

Breast cancer deaths among Black women aged 20-49 dropped from 16.54 deaths per 100,000 women in 2010 to just 3.41 deaths per 100,000 women in 2020. However, Black women's breast cancer mortality remains notably higher than that of White women, whose morality rate in 2020 was only 1.16 deaths per 100,000 women.

Research Uncovers Evidence of Inferior Nursing Care in Black-Serving Hospitals

Scholars from the University of Pennsylvania have found patient outcomes directly related to nursing care are worse at Black-serving hospitals, including those with strong nursing resources.

Black Children Are Eight Times More Likely to Die From Firearm Homicide Than White Children

For every 100,000 children, 11.7 Black children and 2.1 White children died by firearm in 2023. Among youth homicides, 8.9 Black children and one White child died by firearm per every 100,000 children in 2023.

Harvard Study Finds Black Americans Are More Likely to Participate in Clinical Trials Led by Black Scientists

"Increasing trust among Black communities requires the medical profession to become more trustworthy," the study authors write. "Part of building trust is increasing the opportunity for members of underrepresented groups to be in positions of authority, including as principal investigators and physicians."

Black Women Scientists Are Viewed as Less Competent Than Black Male and White Counterparts

In an online experiment using two short documentary films, viewers consistently rated Black women scientists as less warm and less competent than Black men and White scientists of both genders, particularly when they introduced a White test subject.

How Different Rating Systems Affect the Racial Earning Gap in Gig Work

When an online platform uses a five-star rating scale, non-White gig workers receive lower ratings, on average, than their White counterparts, resulting in a 9 percentage point income gap. However, changing the rating scale to a simple thumbs up/thumbs down nearly eliminates this racial disparity.

Despite Recent Progress, the Black Homeownership Rate Is the Lowest Among All Major Racial Groups

As of 2023, the homeownership rate of Black Americans is 44.7 percent - significantly lower than that of White (72.4 percent), Asian (63.4 percent) and Hispanic (51.0 percent) Americans.

Report Documents the State of Education for Black Students in California

The "Black Minds Matter 2025" report from EdTrust-West has outlined the state of education for Black Californians, documenting the barriers facing Black students in TK-12 and higher education settings.

Does Transgenerational Slavery Trauma Cause Present-Day Health Disparities?

The study authors argue that "there is no justification needed [to explain present-day racial health disparities] beyond the key role of structural racism experienced directly by African Americans today."

Black Children Get Less Sleep Than Children of Other Racial Backgrounds

A new study has found Black children get less sleep and experience greater variability in their sleep routines compared to children from other racial groups. As sleep is an essential component of pediatric health, the authors believe their findings suggest pediatric clinicians should inquire about sleep habits when working with children from diverse racial backgrounds.

Study Examines Factors Leading to Racial Disparities in Mammography Behavior

The study authors write, "Addressing the social determinants of health factors unique to Black women will not only increase mammography screening and improve breast cancer outcomes for this population but may lessen the economic burden that disparate health outcomes create."

Black Americans Represent Just 5 Percent of All Top Staff in the New U.S. Congress

While Black Americans represent nearly 14 percent of the total U.S. population, they represent just 5.5 percent of all top staff positions in the personal offices of U.S. House members and senators.

Examining Racial Diversity Among Lead Actors in 2024’s Highest-Earning Films

Only 25 films out of the top 100 highest-earning movies in 2024 featured a nonwhite lead or co-lead actor. These 25 films feature a combined 26 protagonists, 10 of whom are Black.

Study Uncovers More Evidence That Black Students Are Overrepresented in School Discipline

In an examination of six different kinds of school discipline and punishment, three comparison groups, and 16 subpopulations, a new study has found that "no matter how you slice it, Black students are overrepresented among those punished and excluded."

Study Highlights the Preferential Promotion of White Men in Academic Medicine

"To achieve a workforce that reflects the diversity of the U.S. population, academic medicine must transform its culture and the practices that surround faculty appointments and promotions," write the study authors, who found White male medical professors are more likely than their peers from nearly every other racial or gender group to receive a promotion.

Black Athletes Are Significantly More Likely Than White Peers to Experience Cardiac Arrest

A team of scholars led by researchers at Emory University in Atlanta has found Black athletes are five times as likely as White athletes to experience a heart attack or die from sudden cardiac complications.

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