|
|
|
Success Facts
Black History Month: February 2008 To commemorate and celebrate the contributions to our nation made by people of African descent, American historian Carter G. Woodson established Black History Week. The first celebration occurred on Feb. 12, 1926. For many years, the second week of February was set aside for this celebration to coincide with the birthdays of abolitionist/editor Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. In 1976, as part of the nation’s bicentennial, the week was expanded into Black History Month. In 2000, President Clinton proclaimed February as National African American History Month.
Population Distribution 40.2 million As of July 1, 2006, the estimated population of black residents in the United States, including those of more than one race. They made up 13.4 percent of the total U.S. population. This figure represents an increase of half a million residents from one year earlier. Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/010048.html>
61.4 million The projected single-race black population of the United States for July 1, 2050. On that date, according to the projection, blacks would constitute 14.6 percent of the nation’s total population. Source: Population projections <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/001720.html>
18 Number of states with an estimated black population on July 1, 2006, of at least 1 million. New York, with 3.5=2 0million blacks, led the way. The 17 other states on the list were Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/010048.html>
37% Percentage of Mississippi’s population that is black, highest of any state. Blacks also make up more than a quarter of the population in Louisiana (32 percent), Georgia (30 percent), Maryland (30 percent), South Carolina (29 percent) and Alabama (27 percent). They comprise 57 percent of the population in the District of Columbia. Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/010048.html>
135,000 The increase in Texas’ black population between July 1, 2005, and July 1, 2006, which led all states. Georgia (101,000), Florida (86,000) and North Carolina (41,000) also recorded large increases. Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/010048.html>
22 Number of states in which blacks are the largest minority group. These states are Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin. (Note: Minorities are part of a group other than single-race non-Hispanic white.)
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/010048.html>
1.4 million The number of blacks in Cook County, Ill., as of July 1, 2006. Cook led all the nation’s counties in the number of people of this racial category. Los Angeles County, Calif., also topped the 1 million mark. Harris County, Texas, had the largest numerical increase in the black population between July 1, 2005, and July 1, 2006 (52,000), followed by East Baton Rouge Parish, La. (19,000).
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/010482.html>
Among counties with total populations of at least 10,000, all 50 with the highest percentage black population were in the South. Claiborne County, Miss., which was 85 percent black, led the country.
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/010482.html>
31% The proportion of the black population younger than 18 as of July 1, 2006. At the other end of the spectrum, 8 percent of the black population was 65 and older.
Source: Population estimates <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/010048.html>
Note: Unless otherwise noted, the estimates in this section refer to the population that is either single-race black or black in combination with one or more other races.
Serving Our Nation 2.4 million Number of black military veterans in the United States in 2006. More military veterans are black than any other minority group.
Source: 2006 American Community Survey
<http://factfinder.census.gov>.
Data pertain to single-race blacks.
Education 81% Among blacks 25 and older, the proportion who had at least a high school diploma in 2006.
Source: Educational Attainment in the United States: 2006 <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/education/009749.html>
18% Percentage of blacks 25 and older who had a bachelor’s degree or higher in 2006.
Source: Educational Attainment in the United States: 2006 <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/education/009749.html>
1.3 million Among blacks 25 and older, the number who had an advanced degree in 2006 (e.g., master’s, doctorate, medical or law). In 1996, 683,000 blacks had this level of education.
Source: Educational Attainment in the United States: 2006 <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/education/009749.html>
2.3 million Number of black college students in fall 2005. This was an increase of roughly 1 million from 15 years earlier.
Source: School Enrollment – Social and Economic Characteristics of Students: October 2005 <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/education/007909.html> Note: 2005 and 2006 data in this section pertain to single-race blacks.
Businesses $88.6 billion Revenues for black-owned businesses in 2002. The number of black-owned businesses totaled nearly 1.2 million in 2002. Black-owned firms accounted for 5 percent of all nonfarm businesses in the United States.
129,329 The number of black-owned firms in New York in 2002, which led all states. New York City alone had 98,080 such firms, which led all cities.
10,716 The number of black-owned firms operating in 2002 with receipts of $1 million or more. These firms accounted for 1 percent of the total number of black-owned firms in 2002 and 55 percent of their total receipts, or $49 billion.
969 The number of black-owned firms with 100 or more employees in 2002. Firms of this size accounted for 24 percent of the total revenue for black-owned employer firms in 2002, or $16 billion.
Source: Black-Owned Firms: 2002
<http://www.census.gov/prod/ec02/sb0200csblk.pdf>
Income, Poverty and Health Insurance $31,969 The annual median income of single-race black households in 2006. In constant dollars, this is up from $26,468 in 1986.
Source: Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2006
<http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/income_wealth/010583.html>
$34,770 & $30,352 The 2006 median earnings of single-race black men and women, respectively, 15 and older who worked full time, year-round.
Source: Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2006 <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/income_wealth/010583.html>
24.3% Poverty rate in 2006 for single-race blacks. This rate was down from 31.1 percent in 1986.
Source: Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2006 <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/income_wealth/010583.html>
20.5% The percentage of single-race blacks lacking health insurance in 2006, up from 19 percent in 2005.
Source: Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2006 <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/income_wealth/010583.html>
Families and Children Note: The first two statements in this section pertain to households with a householder who is single-race black.
64% Percentage of black households that contained a family. There were 8.4 million black family households. Source: 2006 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov>
45% Nationally, the percentage of black families containing a married-couple family.
Source: 2006 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov>
1.2 million Number of single-race black grandparents living with their own grandchildren younger than 18. Of this number, 51 percent were also responsible for their care.
Source: 2006 American Community Survey <http://factfinder.census.gov>
Homeownership – the American Dream 46% Nationally, the percentage of black households that lived in owner-occupied homes. The rate was higher in certain states, such as Mississippi, where it reached 58 percent.
Source: 2006 American Community Survey
<http://factfinder.census.gov>
Note: Data in this section pertain to households with a householder who is single-race black.
Jobs 26% The percentage of single-race blacks 16 and older who work in management, professional and related occupations. There are 44,900 black physicians and surgeons, 80,000 postsecondary teachers, 48,300 lawyers, and 52,400 chief executives.
Sources: 2006 American Community Survey and Upcoming Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2008
<http://factfinder.census.gov> and <http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/>
SOURCE
THE JOURNAL OF BLACKS IN HIGHER EDUCATION http://www.jbhe.com Weekly Bulletin June 5, 2003 BLACK ENROLLMENTS IN GRADUATE PROGRAMS ON THE RISE: New statistics released by the U.S. Department of Education show that in 2000 there were 158,000 black students enrolled in graduate programs in the United States. This was up 6 percent from the prior year... The number of black students enrolled in graduate programs has more than doubled since 1980... Black enrollments in professional degree programs such as law, medicine, and business management stood at 24,000 in the year 2000. This was an increase of 4 percent over the previous year... black enrollments <in professional degree programs for the past decade> have increased by 50 percent. Over the past 20 years, black enrollments in professional degree programs have nearly doubled... **********
THE JOURNAL OF BLACKS IN HIGHER EDUCATION
**********
********** The National Medical Association's web site reports that the organization has a membership database of 25,000 - consisting of Black physicians in a wide range of specialties, such as primary care, pediatrics, radiology, pathology, aerospace medicine, academic medicine, administration specialties and medical and surgical subspecialties. **********
Black Enterprise, June 1998, cites data from the Directory
of Minority Judges of the United States, Second Edition, American Bar
Association, Chicago, 1997, that indicates that there are ********** The National Society of Black Engineers' web site reports that the organization has 10,000 members, including 2000 professional engineers and scientists. ********** The web site of the Association of Black Psychologists reports a membership of 1400 professionals and students who are in the forefront of addressing issues of a psychological nature that adversely affect the Black community. ********** The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies reports that there were 8.868 Blacks holding political positions across the United States in 1998. While there was only 1 Black Senator and 39 Black Representatives in the United States Congress, and only 1 Black Governor in office in 1998, there were 154 Black State Senators and 425 Black State Representatives. 808 Blacks were members of County Governing Boards, 445 were Mayors, and 3468 were members of Municipal Governing Boards. 948 Blacks were Judges or other Judicial Officials, 50 were Police Chiefs, Sheriffs, or Marshals, and 2017 were members of University and College Boards or Local School Boards or were other Education Officials. Check out the full report at www.jointctr.org.
African Americans on Currency, did you know it is a little known fact that five African Americans have had their signatures on currency. The four African American men s C. Napier. These men served as Registers of the Treasury. Until the series 1923 currency, the two signatures on almost all currency (except Fractional Currency and Demand Notes) were of the Treasurer and the Register. During this pewhose signatures appeared on the currency were Blanche K. Bruce, Judson W. Lyons, William T. Vernon and Jameriod four of the 17 registers were African American. The fifth African American whose signature appeared on currency was Azie Taylor Morton. Ms. Morton was the 36th Treasurer of the United States. She served from September 12, 1977, to January 20, 1981. There are no images of African-Americans printed on U.S. currency. ********** EXHIBIT
HONORS EARLY BLACK SCHOLARS OF THE CLASSICS
|