Figuratively Speaking

African-American historian Carter G. Woodson established Black History Week beginning on Feb. 12, 1926. In 1976, as part of the nation’s bicentennial, the week was expanded into Black History Month. In honor of the month, Figuratively Speaking takes a look at the African-American community based on the most current data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Population Size & Distribution

• Number of U.S. residents who were either Black or Black and at least one other race as of July 1, 2003: 38.7 million.
• Percentage of total U.S. population: 13.3.
• Increase in the Black population between April 1, 2000, and July 1, 2003: 1.6 million.
• Percentage rate of increase: 4.4.
• Percent increase for the total U.S. population: 3.3.
• Projected single-race Black population of the United States as of July 1, 2050: 61.4 million.
• Percentage of the nation’s total population on that date: 15.
• Net number of single-race Black people who will have been added to the U.S. population between 2000 and 2050: 25.5 million.
• Projected percent increase of this population: 71.
• Percentages of single-race Blacks who live in the south: 55.
• Percentages of single-race Blacks who live in the central cities of metropolitan areas: 52.
• Estimated Black population of New York City on July 1, 2003: 3.6 million.

Education

• Percentage of Blacks age 25 and older with at least a high school diploma in 2003: 80.
• Increase from 1993: 10 percent.
• For Blacks ages 25 to 29: 88 percent.
• Percentages of Blacks age 25 and older with a bachelor’s degree or higher in 2003: 17.
• Increase from 1993: 5 percent.
• Number of Blacks age 25 and older with an advanced degree in 2003 (e.g., master’s, Ph.D., M.D. or J.D.): 1 million.
• Estimated work-life earnings for full-time, year-round Black workers with an advanced degree: $2.5 million.
• For Blacks with a bachelor’s degree: $1.7 million.
• For Blacks with a high school diploma: $1 million.

Income and Poverty

• Annual median income of Black households in 2003: $30,000.
• Change from 2002: 0%.
• Poverty rate in 2003 for those reporting Black as their only race: 24.4%
• Change from 2002: 0%.

Families

• Number of Black families in the United States: 8.9 million.
• Percentage of married-couple families: 47.
• Percentage of married-couple families consisting of two members: 34.
• Percent consisting of five or more members: 19.
• Percentage of Black children living in a household maintained by a grandparent: 10.
• Percentage of Black householders who own their own home: 50.

Jobs

• Number of Black physicians and surgeons: 31,400.
• Number of Black post-secondary teachers: about 64,800.
• Number of Black chief executives: 26,300.
• Number of Black lawyers: 33,900.
• Number of Black news analysts, reporters and correspondents: 5,600.
• Number of Black legislators: 1,500.

Age Distribution

• Percentage of the black population under 18 as of July 1, 2003: 32.
• Percentage of the Black population age 65 and older: 8.

Serving the Nation

• Number of black military veterans in the United States in 2003: 2.3 million.
• Number of Black legislators: 1,500.

Health

• Percentage of deaths among Black men attributed to cardiovascular disease in 1999: 33.8
• Among Black women: 40.8
• Percentage of non-Hispanic Black men- age 20 and older with high blood pressure: 36.7
• Percentage of non-Hispanic Black women: 36.7
• Percentage of Black men with total blood cholesterol levels more than 200 mg/dL: 45
• Percentage of Black women who are overweight: 68.3; percentage obese: 38.2
• Percentage of Black men who are overweight: 58.4; percentage obese: 21.3

* Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention