New study reveals persistent socio-economic gap between blacks and whites

By Bill J. Fighter

A new study conducted by the National Urban League, a historic civil rights organization dedicated to the economic empowerment of black communities, revealed that blacks are only 72 percent equal to whites in terms of economics and social justice.

The annual report, titled “State of Black America,” which has tracked the progression of blacks since it was first issued in 1976, says that blacks in America have only achieved 55.8 percent economic equality as of 2015: “What do we say and how would we frame the state of Black America for 2015? I must use the word crisis,” stated Marc H. Morial, president and chief executive of the National Urban League.

The equality percentages for blacks with respect to social justice, health and economics have shown minor improvement from 2014 as they are currently 56.9 percent, 78.2 percent and 55.4 percent, respectively.

In the San Francisco metro area, the income gap between whites and blacks proves rather pronounced as the median income for the former is $95,285 and only $39.902 for the latter. In Jackson, Mississippi, the unemployment percentage among blacks is 14 percent and 3.9 percent among whites—the largest discrepancy nationwide.

With regard to education, blacks measure somewhat equally to whites; however, in certain states, the high school graduation rate for black students is 35% lower than that of whites. The National Urban League currently hosts a website that presents more specific equality statistics covering a wide range of criteria.

The National Urban League is the oldest and largest community-based organization of its kind in the United States. It’s a non-partisan civil rights organization based in New City that advocates on behalf of African Americans and against racial discrimination in the United States. It was founded in 1910 and boasts 95 affiliates serving over 300 communities in 35 states. Its current president and CEO, Marc H. Morial, who was the 59th mayor of New Orleans, assumed leadership in 2003.