Discrimination in America: The percentage of American college students who are Hispanic, Asian/Pacific Islander, Black, and American Indian/Alaska Native has been increasing. From 1976 to 2011, the percentage of Hispanic students rose from 4 percent to 14 percent, the percentage of Asian/Pacific Islander students rose from 2 percent to 6 percent, the percentage of Black students rose from 10 percent to 15 percent, and the percentage of American Indian/Alaska Native students rose from 0.7 to 0.9 percent. During the same period, the percentage of White students fell from 84 percent to 61 percent. Given that blacks make up 13% of the population TODAY, they are more than fairly represented in colleges whereas whites, who make up 80% of the population are NOT. However, it should be noted that only 42% of the blacks who enroll graduate whereas 62% of whites who enroll graduate. Hmmmm. Affirmative action seems to guarantee a SPOT and SCHOLARSHIPS but not RESULTS. Okay, what about jobs? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the participation rate for blacks is 61.4% and the participation rate for whites is 62.9%. Not that big of a gap, especially considering the college drop-out rate for blacks. The employment to population ratios are similarly close, being 54.7% for blacks and 59.9% for whites. Okay, lets look at the educational levels of those in the workforce. Less than a high school education, 9% for blacks and 8% for whites. Everyone is graduating high school. High school diploma only, 32% blacks, 27% whites. Some college, no degree, 22% black, 16% white. (Again, that nasty drop-out rate). Associates degrees, 11% for both. Hmmm. It seems the drop out is occurring in four-year colleges. Finally, bachelors degree and higher, 27% black and 37% white. Inexplicably close, considering the differences in drop out rates (20% of the population within each) which suggests that educated blacks are employed MORE OFTEN than educated whites. Affirmative action! Okay, now the big one. Taking the entire population into consideration, a white male makes about $10,000 per year more than a black male and a white female makes about $2,000 a year more than a black female.....for those who are working. Asians are the most highly paid, making about $6,000 per year more than whites. So, is this disparity due to discrimination or education? I would wager, given the statistics cited above, that it has to do with the type of employment as related to the education acquired. It does appear that if a black person completes his education that he is more likely to be employed than a white in the same position and is obviously more likely to be able to go to college, just less likely to graduate with a four-year degree. So is THAT the fault of the institution? Is THAT the fault of white people? Is THAT discrimination? Is THAT what we owe MORE opportunities to resolve? The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education would have us believe so claiming that we dont nurture black students enough in our colleges and universities. Giving them preferential treatment in selection and scholarships isnt nurturing enough. Its hard to make THAT argument when the statistic holds true for BLACK colleges and universities such as Elizabeth City State University as well. In fact, according to The Atlantic, historically black colleges and universities typically have lower than average graduation rates. So, you REALLY cant fault the collegiate environment now can you? Lets see now, where else can we place the blame? Oh, they come from low-income environments. Nope. These same universities do a BETTER job of ensuring that LOW income enrollees graduate. Where else? Oh, they are less prepared. I guess integration doesnt exist? Well, NAEP scores in mathematics tend to be 26 points higher for whites and 21 points higher in reading. Why? Some would have you believe we separate blacks from whites within our schools, but we dont. They attend the same classes. The biggest contributor to success in school appears to be an intact, two-parent family (which is perhaps why the gap is narrowing in scores as more white families are becoming single parent households as well). Is this the fault of WHITE people? Is this the fault of SOCIETY? I think this is their own cultural issue. At what point is it up to the individual to change his/her own life and that of his/her own children? There is nothing we can do as a society or as white people to make black people quit being baby daddies and baby mommas and start being families. That, unfortunately, is on them. There you go. Racism in America today. Blame the white man despite my advantages because I wont marry the mother of my children or participate in their lives.
Posted on: Wed, 03 Dec 2014 02:14:47 +0000
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