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Blacks Still Unequal in US: Report

African-Americans remain less employed, more often imprisoned than whites

By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff

Posted Mar 25, 2009 1:36 PM CDT
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(Newser) – Though a black family occupies the White House, inequality between African-Americans and whites persists in the US, a study by the Urban League says. Blacks are twice as likely to be jobless, three times more likely to be poor, six times more likely to have spent time in prison. A composite “equality index” puts the socio-economic status of blacks at 71% of whites, CNN reports.

“As the Obama administration ushers in a new era of hope, change, and to some extent, unity for this nation, many are asking whether racial barriers have now been erased in America,” the report says. “Are discrimination, division and inequality antiquated relics of the past? For a quick answer to that question, one has but to review some of the sobering statistics.”

President Barack Obama listens to a question during last night's news conference at the White House.
President Barack Obama listens to a question during last night's news conference at the White House.   (Getty Images)
Urban League CEO Marc Morial gestures during an interview with the AP yesterday in New York.
Urban League CEO Marc Morial gestures during an interview with the AP yesterday in New York.   (AP Photo)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 11 comments
freethemall
Mar 26, 2009 12:23 PM CDT
Inequality in society is a function of class, not race. The majority of people living in poverty are white, even though the factors contributing to poverty disproportionally impact people of color. The attempt to remedy this disproportionality, affirmative action programs (bailout systems to NotNutsinOH) are enacted. Those of us who are white, should try to understand this.
Forderon
Mar 26, 2009 8:11 AM CDT
Do you not realize how much athletes and famous black people give back to their community? That is not the problem. The problem is black kids growing up with messed up families and single or no parents.
BackAgain
Mar 25, 2009 11:54 AM CDT

Visit the Urban League for an abstract of 'State of Black America'
National Urban League

Report urges Obama to address health care, foreclosures
Associated Press

Could Obama's election slow progress on racial equality?
Washington Times

US

 
race • African Americans • employment • black • African-American voters • African-Americans • incarceration

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