Incomes Rise But the Stubborn Racial Income Gap Persists

p60-256-copyThe U.S. Census Bureau has released its annual report on income and poverty in the United States. According to data in the report, the median income of Black households in the United States in 2015 was $36,898. The median income figure shows the point where half of all families earn below this level and half earn above this level. For non-Hispanic White households in 2015, the median income figure was $62,950. Thus, the median income level for Black households was 58.6 percent of the median income for non-Hispanic White households. With only minor fluctuations, the racial gap in median income has remained virtually unchanged for the past 45 years.

In releasing the data, the government touted the fact that real median income increased for the first time since 2007, before the major recession of 2008. But it failed to point out that despite the overall gains in income, the racial income gap actually increased by a slight amount over the past year.

It is also important to look at the racial gap in income at the highest levels. These families are ones that can afford to send their children to the college of their choice without having to worry about financial aid or student loans. Some 6.9 percent of non-Hispanic White households in 2014 had incomes above $200,000. For Black households, 2.3 percent had incomes of more than $200,000. Thus, Whites are three times as likely as Blacks to come from high-income households.

The full report, Income and Poverty in the United States, 2015, may be downloaded by clicking here.

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Get the JBHE Weekly Bulletin

Receive our weekly email newsletter delivered to your inbox

Latest News

California State University Sacramento Launches Black Honors College

Officially launching for the fall 2024 semester, the Black Honors College will support students from all backgrounds who study Black history, life, and culture by providing them with a specialized curriculum and mentoring opportunities.

Higher Education Gifts or Grants of Interest to African Americans

Here is this week’s news of grants or gifts to historically Black colleges and universities or for programs of particular interest to African Americans in higher education.

In Memoriam: Norman B. Anderson, 1955-2024

Dr. Anderson was the assistant vice president for research and academic affairs at Florida State University at the time of his death. He had an extensive career in clinical psychology, which led him to become the first African American chief executive officer of the American Psychological Association.

Georgia State University Launches Program to Support Black Women in Tech

While Black women account for roughly 29 percent of the Georgia State University undergradaute student body, they represent only 10 percent of the university's computer science majors and 18 percent of the computer information systems majors.

Featured Jobs