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| George Floyd: How far have African Americans come since the 1960s? | George Floyd: How far have African Americans come since the 1960s? |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| In the weeks following the death of George Floyd, much has been said about the long struggle by African Americans for equality in the US. | In the weeks following the death of George Floyd, much has been said about the long struggle by African Americans for equality in the US. |
| It is 57 years this August since civil rights leader Martin Luther King led the March on Washington to demand racial justice. | It is 57 years this August since civil rights leader Martin Luther King led the March on Washington to demand racial justice. |
| So how much progress have black people in the US made since the 1960s? We've looked at six measures. | So how much progress have black people in the US made since the 1960s? We've looked at six measures. |
| 1. Family wealth | 1. Family wealth |
| In 2016, the latest data available, the average wealth of a white family was almost seven times more than a black family in the US. | In 2016, the latest data available, the average wealth of a white family was almost seven times more than a black family in the US. |
| The black-white wealth gap was larger in 2016 than it was in 1983, when black family wealth data was first collected. | The black-white wealth gap was larger in 2016 than it was in 1983, when black family wealth data was first collected. |
| In the 1960s, the data collected had non-whites all grouped together, rather than in separate groups. | In the 1960s, the data collected had non-whites all grouped together, rather than in separate groups. |
| The disparity was at a similar level then as in the most recent data, with white families having about seven times more wealth on average than non-white families. | The disparity was at a similar level then as in the most recent data, with white families having about seven times more wealth on average than non-white families. |
| Researchers at the Brookings Institute say: "The wealth gap reflects a society that has not and does not afford equality of opportunity to all its citizens." | Researchers at the Brookings Institute say: "The wealth gap reflects a society that has not and does not afford equality of opportunity to all its citizens." |
| Wealth is calculated by a family's assets - such as a house or savings - minus their debts. | Wealth is calculated by a family's assets - such as a house or savings - minus their debts. |
| Inheritance accounts for roughly 4% of annual household income in the US - so generational inequalities continue to have an impact, with less money being passed down through black families. | Inheritance accounts for roughly 4% of annual household income in the US - so generational inequalities continue to have an impact, with less money being passed down through black families. |
| In 2016, an average white family's wealth was over $700,000 (£550,000) more than that of an average black family. | In 2016, an average white family's wealth was over $700,000 (£550,000) more than that of an average black family. |
| 2. Poverty | 2. Poverty |
| Although the wealth disparity remains significant, African Americans have become more economically well off since the 1960s. | Although the wealth disparity remains significant, African Americans have become more economically well off since the 1960s. |
| A smaller proportion live in poverty than ever before, according to the latest data. | A smaller proportion live in poverty than ever before, according to the latest data. |
| In 2018, the black poverty rate was 20.8% - about half of that in 1966. | In 2018, the black poverty rate was 20.8% - about half of that in 1966. |
| The white poverty rate has remained relatively steady. | The white poverty rate has remained relatively steady. |
| There are 8.9 million African Americans living in poverty, according to the latest US Census Bureau data. | There are 8.9 million African Americans living in poverty, according to the latest US Census Bureau data. |
| Poverty in the US is calculated by judging if a family's total income is less than the family's needs. | Poverty in the US is calculated by judging if a family's total income is less than the family's needs. |
| If it is, then every person in that family is considered to be in poverty. | If it is, then every person in that family is considered to be in poverty. |
| 3. Completing college | 3. Completing college |
| This is another area in which progress has been made since the 1960s. | This is another area in which progress has been made since the 1960s. |
| More African Americans had completed four years of higher education by 2019 than ever before - 26% compared with just 4% in 1962. | More African Americans had completed four years of higher education by 2019 than ever before - 26% compared with just 4% in 1962. |
| College attainment by white Americans has also increased since the 1960s - but at about half the rate. | College attainment by white Americans has also increased since the 1960s - but at about half the rate. |
| 4. Jobs | 4. Jobs |
| The African-American unemployment rate reached a record low of 5.5% in September last year - but it has spiked sharply because of the huge impact of the coronavirus crisis on the US economy. | The African-American unemployment rate reached a record low of 5.5% in September last year - but it has spiked sharply because of the huge impact of the coronavirus crisis on the US economy. |
| Before this, the white unemployment rate had consistently been about half of the black unemployment rate since records began, in the 1970s. | Before this, the white unemployment rate had consistently been about half of the black unemployment rate since records began, in the 1970s. |
| The recent uptick in job losses has also disproportionately affected African Americans - their unemployment rate is 3.5% higher than the overall figure. | The recent uptick in job losses has also disproportionately affected African Americans - their unemployment rate is 3.5% higher than the overall figure. |
| 5. Wages | 5. Wages |
| There hasn't been much movement in the disparity between the wages of black and white Americans either. | There hasn't been much movement in the disparity between the wages of black and white Americans either. |
| The average income of black households is just over 60% that of white households, with this disparity barely changing over the past 50 years. | |
| Black wages have gone up, but roughly in line with white wages. | Black wages have gone up, but roughly in line with white wages. |
| And today's average wage adjusted for inflation has about the same purchasing power as it did 40 years ago. | And today's average wage adjusted for inflation has about the same purchasing power as it did 40 years ago. |
| 6. Representation in Congress | 6. Representation in Congress |
| Progress has been made in black representation in politics, with today's US Congress being the most diverse ever. | Progress has been made in black representation in politics, with today's US Congress being the most diverse ever. |
| The current Congress - the US legislative branch of government, made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate - has 55 African-American members, up from 50 in the previous term. | The current Congress - the US legislative branch of government, made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate - has 55 African-American members, up from 50 in the previous term. |
| As voting rights and protections were expanded during the civil rights movement, the number of black lawmakers increased. | As voting rights and protections were expanded during the civil rights movement, the number of black lawmakers increased. |
| The first elected Congress of the 1960s had just four African-American members - but by the end of the 1960s, there were 11. | The first elected Congress of the 1960s had just four African-American members - but by the end of the 1960s, there were 11. |
| This number has continued to grow and has more than doubled since the start of the 1990s. | This number has continued to grow and has more than doubled since the start of the 1990s. |
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