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Bill Kelso
Steffi and Margie and Jackson has recently raised excellent questions about the issue of discrimination in the US. If you happen to be interested, I though I might summarize some of research that has been done on this topic in the last several decades.
While everyone agrees there is much to be done, the evidence suggests that the country has made significant progress in fighting prejudice and improving the lives of minorities.
Regional Progress
For example, from 1870 to 1960s, the US practiced segregation in the south, a process that was called Jim Crow that restricted both employment and housing opportunities for minorities. But by the late 1960s all of these discriminatory practices of the South had been outlawed.
In fact, by the 1970s the opposite situation prevailed as many entities including colleges and business adopted affirmative action programs. Ironically enough California which is considered the most liberal state in the country rejected AA in 1996 and also in the 2020 election. But many other states and institutions continue to operate such programs.
In light of the progress that has been made in the south, we are now seeing a major reversal of previous black migration patterns. For instance, in 1910, 90% of all African Americans lived in the South. But between 1920 to 1970 we witnessed three major migrations by blacks as they left the south and traveled to states like California, Michigan, Illinois and New York.
But since the 1970s we have begun to see a major reversal of these patterns as Blacks are now moving out of the above areas and settling in states in the deep south like Tennessee, Texas, Georgia and Florida. California, Michigan Illinois which were once the top ten states gaining Blacks are today the greatest losers of Black Population. While once the south was seen as a region of discrimination, today blacks see the south as offering improved race relationship and more opportunity than northern and coastal states. Today over 60% of Blacks live in the south and it is the only regions that has a net in migration of Black Americans.
As evidence of this change, South Carolina, which was the most pro Slavery states during the Civil War has elected a Black Republican, Tim Scott, as one of their two US senators.
Educational Improvements
Besides seeing major improvements in the racial attitudes of different regions of the country, we are also seeing major changes in the accomplishments of minorities. One of the best examples of this pattern is found in education.
While only 50% of all African American graduated from high school in 1968, today more than 90% of Blacks have completed a high school education. Similarly while only 9% of Blacks had a college degree in 1968, today the figure is over 23%.
Changes in Poverty
While the poverty rate among African American was 34.7% in 1968, today just 21.4% of African American are considered poor.
Household Income and Business Success
If we look at house hold income adjusted for inflation their annual income increased 42.8% percent from 1968 to 2016, slightly outpacing income growth for the typical white household of 36.7%. While there is still a significant gap between the wages of whites and African American, and much more work need to be done to correct the situation, the movement of wages is in the right direction.
Equally important, since 1999, there have been 18 Black Chief Operating Officers of Fortune 500 Companies. In the 1960s the number of Black CEOs of Fortune Companies was zero. While the black population has become better educated, and more affluent, their ability to reach some of the most prestigious positions in the business world is significant.
Political Achievements
Finally, as everyone is undoubtedly aware, Blacks have made substantial progress in gaining political power. Besides electing Barack Obama as President, the country has elected many Black Mayors of major cities including San Francisco, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Detroit, Chicago, New York and Washington DC.
While much work remains to be done to achieve racial justice, the situation in the US today in no way resembles that situation that existed in the 1950s and 60s.
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