Research & Studies

Strong STEM Aptitude in High School Does Not Translate to STEM College Enrollment for Black Students

A new study from New York University has debunked a popular theory that early STEM success in childhood translates to STEM enrollment in higher education. According to their findings, a significant proportion of Black students who score well in STEM high school classes ultimately do not declare a STEM major in college.

Federal Report Uncovers Racial Disparities in the Persistence of First-Time College Students

Among all first-time postsecondary students who began their higher education in 2019-2020, 22 percent were no longer enrolled in any institution three years later. When broken down by race, nearly 30 percent of Black students in this group were no longer enrolled in higher education after three years, compared to one fifth of their White peers.

Black Junior Professors Receive Unfair Decisions When Seeking Promotions and Tenure

A new study led by the University of Houston has found Black and Hispanic junior faculty members are more likely to receive negative votes and less likely to receive unanimous approvals from their promotion committees. They are also judged more harshly for their academic output compared to peers with similar productivity.

Pew Research Center Report Examines Changes in Enrollments at HBCUs

Since 1976, the share of Black student enrollment at HBCUs has increased by 15 percent, while the share of non-Black HBCU students increased by 117 percent. This has caused a decrease in Black students' overall representation at HBCUs, which has dropped from 85 percent in 1976 to 76 percent in 2022.

Study Finds Black High School Students Tend to Doubt Their Math Teachers’ Capabilities

Black high school students, particularly Black girls, tend to doubt their math teachers' capabilities to provide them with an adequate education, resulting in a frequent misunderstanding of the importance of math skills in pursuing their future careers.

Study Finds Preterm Births Among Low-Income Black Women Are on the Rise

From 2014-2022, the rate of preterm births in the United States rose from 6.8 percent to 7.5 percent. However, among Black women with public insurance, this rate jumped to a staggering 11.3 percent.

Federal Report Examines Racial Differences in Parent Involvement in K-12 School Activities

The Department of Education has recently released their 2023 edition of their Parental and Family Involvement in Education report. The study outlines parents' involvement in children's activities and school meetings, their satisfaction with school characteristics, and their communication with teachers and school officials.

Encountering Online Microaggressions is Associated With Poor Sleep Quality for Black Women

When Black women encounter online microaggressions directed at other Black women, they are more likely to experience poor sleep quality. These vicarious online microaggressions were found to be more harmful for sleep quality than encountering in-person microaggressions.

The Poverty Rate Among Black Americans Increased in 2023

In 2022 poverty rate rate was the lowest on record for Black Americans at 17.1 percent. In 2023, the poverty rate for African Americans rose to 17.9 percent. This was 2.3 times the rate for non-Hispanic White Americans.

Despite Recent Gains, Racial Inequalities Persist in Household Income and Wealth

A new report from the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies and the Center for Economic Policy and Research has cautioned that even though Black Americans have made notable economic gains in recent years, significant racial inequalities persist and will continue to persist for hundreds of years if the current rate of progress does not significantly improve.

Georgetown University Examines Racial Gap in Graduate Degree Attainment in the United States

The representation of Black graduate degree holders is 3 percentage points less than their representation in the U.S. population. Furthermore, Black Americans with graduate degrees earn on average $18,000 less than their White peers and $34,000 less than their Asian peers in annual income.

The Racial Gap in Median Income Increased in 2023

For non-Hispanic White households in 2023, the median income figure was $89,050. In 2023, the median Black household income of $56,490 was 63.4 percent of the median income of non-Hispanic White families.

Exposure to a Large Local Police Force Associated With Lower Economic Mobility for Black Men

A new study from scholars at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Yale University has found exposure to a large local police force during adolescence and young adulthood is associated with increases in the racial economic mobility gap between Black and White American men.

Despite Overall Improvements in California’s Air Quality, Racial Disparities Persist

Historically racist housing policies, like redlining, have forced Black and other underrepresented communities into areas with high exposure to air pollution, such as those near highways and seaports. Although these areas have greatly improved their pollution exposure, relative disparities compared to White neighborhoods have increased since 2000.

UNCF Report Highlights the Positive Impact of HBCUs on the United States Economy

According to the UNCF's analysis, HBCUs generate $16.5 billion in annual spending and create just as many jobs as a large publicly-traded American company.

Study Finds Black Women Shoulder the Brunt of Low Pay Occupations and Temporary Work

Overall, the median income for Black women in the United States is roughly $15,000 less than the median income for White men. Black women were found to be significantly more likely to work jobs with lower wages, less benefits, and part-time hours.

Study Finds Widening Racial Diversity Gaps Between STEM and Non-STEM Fields

While the overall representation of Black faculty has barely increased over the past 20 years, a new study has found a small increase in Black faculty representation since 2016. However, this is almost entirely due to an increase among Black assistant professors in non-STEM fields.

Pew Research Center Reports on Demographic Breakdown of the American Middle Class

According to a report from Pew Research Center, Black Americans are the least likely racial group to be middle-class. Roughly 46 percent of all Black households are middle-class, compared to national rate of 52 percent among all American households and 55 percent of all White households.

Harvard Study Examines How Prejudice is Learned Through Observing Behavior

Through a series of experiments in which participants observed behavior from others driven by racial stereotyping, the authors found illuminating insight into how individual prejudices can spread to others and potentially society at large.

Study Finds Significant Racial Disparities in Exposure to Tobacco Advertisements on TV

A new study has revealed that roughly 12 percent of American adults encounter tobacco-related marketing when watching TV traditionally or via streaming platforms. However, among Black Americans, that exposure jumps to more than 19 percent.

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