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 status of blacks and whites, some of which are interesting but not particularly important whereas others are highly relevant and critical to the measurement of racial progress.
(Note: Boldface type suggests items of positive or important change.)

• The median age of white Americans in 2005: 40.3 years
• The median age of African Americans in 2005: 30.0 years
• The median age of Hispanic Americans in 2005: 27.2 years (U.S. Bureau of the Census)

• Number of African Americans who earned a high school diploma in 2005: 354,000
• Number of African Americans who dropped out of high school in the 2004-05 academic year: 114,000 (U.S. Bureau of the Census)

• Percentage of all 18- to 24-year-old African Americans who were enrolled in higher education in 1984: 20.3%
• Percentage of all 18- to 24-year-old African Americans who were enrolled in higher education in 2004: 31.8% (U.S. Bureau of the Census)

• Percentage of all babies in the United States who are born to African-American mothers: 17%
• Percentage of all low-birthweight babies in the United States who are born to African-American mothers: 33% (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

• Percentage of all black males aged 25 to 29 who were in state or federal prison or local jails on June 30, 2005: 12.0%
• Percentage of all white males aged 25 to 29 who were in state or federal prison or local jails on June 30, 2005: 1.7% (Bureau of Justice Statistics)

• Percentage of all white students in kindergarten through eighth grade who cared for themselves after school in 2005: 11%
• Percentage of all African-American students in kindergarten through eighth grade who cared for themselves after school in 2005: 16% (U.S. Department of Education)

• Percentage of all 25- to 29-year-old black males who held a high school diploma in 1995: 88.4%
• Percentage of all 25- to 29-year-old black males who held a high school diploma in 2005: 86.6% (U.S. Department of Education)

• Percentage of all 25- to 29-year-old white Americans in 2005 who had completed some college work: 64.3%
• Percentage of all 25- to 29-year-old African Americans in 2005 who had completed some college work: 49.0% (U.S. Department of Education)

• Percentage of all 25- to 29-year-old African American women in 2005 who had completed some college work: 55.1%
• Percentage of all 25- to 29-year-old African American men in 2005 who had completed some college work: 41.9% (U.S. Department of Education)

• Percentage of all 1993 white bachelor's degree recipients who had obtained a graduate degree by 2003: 25.4%
• Percentage of all 1993 black bachelor's degree recipients who had obtained a graduate degree by 2003: 25.8% (U.S. Department of Education)

• Percentage of black children ages 3 to 5 in 1993 who were read to by a family member at least three times a week: 65.9%
• Percentage of black children ages 3 to 5 in 2005 who were read to by a family member at least three times a week: 78.5% (U.S. Department of Education)

• Percentage of black children ages 3 to 5 in 1993 who were told a story by a family member at least three times a week: 39.0%
• Percentage of black children ages 3 to 5 in 2005 who were told a story by a family member at least three times a week: 54.3% (U.S. Department of Education)

• Percentage of parents of white children in grades 3-12 in 2003 who were satisfied with their child's school: 59.8%
• Percentage of parents of black children in grades 3-12 in 2003 who were satisfied with their child's school: 51.6% (U.S. Department of Education)

• Percentage of white students in grades 4 to 8 in 2005 who were absent from school three or more days in the month prior to the survey: 19%
• Percentage of black students in grades 4 to 8 in 2005 who were absent from school three or more days in the month prior to the survey: 24% (U.S. Department of Education)

• Percentage of white adults in 2003 who read magazines or newspapers every day: 53.7%
• Percentage of black adults in 2003 who read magazines or newspapers every day: 42.3% (U.S. Department of Education)

• Percentage of white adults in 2003 who had 25 or more books in their home: 92.7%
• Percentage of black adults in 2003 who had 25 or more books in their home: 81.8% (U.S. Department of Education)

• Percentage of white children ages 3 to 5 in 2005 who were enrolled in preschool education programs: 59%
• Percentage of black children ages 3 to 5 in 2005 who were enrolled in preschool education programs: 66% (U.S. Department of Education)

• Percentage of all students enrolled in master's degree programs in 2004 who were black: 10.5%
• Percentage of all students enrolled in doctoral degree programs in 2004 who were black: 9.0%
• Percentage of all students enrolled in doctoral degree programs in the field of education in 2004 who were black: 20.9%

• Percentage of all students enrolled in medical school in 2004 who were black: 5.8%
• Percentage of all students enrolled in law school in 2004 who were black: 5.8%
• Percentage of all students enrolled in divinity school in 2004 who were black: 12.5% (U.S. Department of Education)

JBHE Past Vital Statistics

• Issue No. 51 – Spring 2006
• Issue No. 50 – Winter 2005/2006
• Issue No. 49 – Autumn 2005