2004 Racial Index

By Keith Boykin, in politics
Thursday, January 1 2004, 5:21PM

Beyond The Down LowIs it true that there are more black men in prison than in college? And are black women the fastest growing risk group for HIV/AIDS? I've been looking into those issues and others for my book, Beyond The Down Low.

THE 2004 RACIAL INDEX

1. More Black Men Than Black Women Are Born Each Year
606,000: Number of black births in 2001
308,575: Number of black males born in 1985
299,618: Number of black females born in 1985
23: percentage of black births to teenage mothers, in 1990
18.9: percentage of black births to teenage mothers, in 2001

2. But Women Are the Majority of the Black Population
36 million: Total black population in March 2002
19.3 million: Black female population in March 2002
16.7 million: Black male population in March 2002
53.6: Percentage of black population that is female

3. There Are 2.7 Million More Black Women Than Black Men
24.3 million: Total black adult population in March 2002
13.5 million: Total black female adult population in March 2002
10.8 million: Total black male adult population in March 2002
55.5: Percentage of black adults who are female

4. Black High School Graduation Rates Have Increased Steadily For Men and Women
7.7: Percentage of blacks who had completed high school, in 1940
36.1: Percentage of blacks who had completed high school, in 1970
51.4: Percentage of blacks who had completed high school, in 1980
78.9: Percentage of blacks who had completed high school, in 2000
20: Percentage of black males who completed high school, in 1960
23.1: Percentage of black females who completed high school, in 1960
80.6: Percentage of black males who completed high school, in 2001
78.6: Percentage of black females who completed high school, in 2001

5. There Are More Black Women In College Because There Are More Black Women
4.16 million: Total number of blacks aged 18-24
737,000: Black women aged 18-24 enrolled in college
465,000: Black men aged 18-24 enrolled in college
60: Percentage of blacks enrolled in HBCUs who are women, in 1996
40: Percentage of blacks enrolled in HBCUs who are men, in 1996
1.3: Percentage of blacks with 4 or more years of college, in 1940
16.6: Percentage of blacks with 4 or more years of college, in 2000
16.3: Percentage of black females with 4 or more years of college, in 2001
15.9: Percentage of black males with 4 or more years of college, in 2001

6. Black Men Are Disproportionately Incarcerated
5 million: Number of men of any race who have ever served time in state or federal prison in 2001
1.9 million: Number of black men who have ever served time in state or federal prison as of 2001
704,000: Number in 1979
630,700: Number of white men in prison or jail
818,900: Number of black men in prison or jail
195,500: Number of black men ages 18-24 in prison or jail
17: Percentage of black men who have ever served time in prison

7. Black Women Are Disproportionately Incarcerated
68,800: Number of white women in prison or jail
65,600: Number of black women in prison or jail

8. There Are More Black College-Aged Men in College Than In Prison Or Jail
1.86 million: Total population of black men aged 18-24
465,000: Black men aged 18-24 enrolled in college
195,500: Black men aged 18-24 in prison or jail
37: Percent of black men high school grads aged 18-24 enrolled in college
25: Percent of black men aged 18-24 enrolled in college
10.5: Percent of black men aged 18-24 in prison or jail

9. Significant Numbers Of Young Black Women Are In College
2.1 million: Total population of black women aged 18-24
737,000: Black women aged 18-24 enrolled in college
42: Percent of black women high school grads aged 18-24 enrolled in college
35: Percent of black women aged 18-24 enrolled in college

10. There Is No Significant Difference In Black Male-Female Unemployment
78.2: Median annual earnings of black men as a percentage of white men's median annual earnings
64.6: Median annual earnings of black women as a percentage of white men's median annual earnings
11: Black male unemployment rate in January 1980
10.5: Black female unemployment rate in January 1980
9.6: Black male unemployment rate in January 2004
9.1: Black female unemployment rate in January 2004

11. There Are Not Enough Black Men For Black Women to Marry
13.5 million: Total black female adult population in March 2002
10.8 million: Total black male adult population in March 2002
5.2 million: Number of black women who are married
5.1 million: Number of black men who are married
38.2: Percentage of black women over 18 who have never been married
16.5: Percentage of white women over 18 who have never been married

12. Interracial Marriage Is Rare But Infidelity Is Not
279,000: Number of married black men with white wives
5.5: Percentage of married black men with white wives
44: Percentage of black women who admitted to cheating on their partners in Ebony magazine poll
12: Percent of all bisexual men with one female partner and multiple male partners
52: Percent of all bisexual men with multiple male partners and multiple female partners

13. Blacks Have Been Hit Hard By HIV/AIDS
347,491: Number of blacks diagnosed with AIDS since the epidemic began, as of 2002
185,000: Number of blacks who have died from AIDS, as of 2002
162,000: Number of blacks living with AIDS, in 2002
21,000: Number of blacks who are diagnosed with AIDS each year
24: Number of states with HIV transmission laws, as of 2002
25.7: Percentage of AIDS cases that were black in 1983

14. Blacks Are More Knowledgeable About HIV Than Whites
99: Percentage of black adults who know HIV is transmitted from unprotected sex or infected needles
93: Percent of blacks who knew HIV could be transmitted from unprotected oral sex
91: Percent of whites who knew HIV could be transmitted from unprotected oral sex

15. Blacks Are More Likely To Be Tested for HIV Than Whites
67: Percentage of blacks who have been tested for HIV
44: Percentage of whites who have been tested for HIV

16. AIDS Affects Far More Black Men Than Black Women
47,037: Number of black male adult/adolescent AIDS cases in 1991
11,156: Number of black female adult/adolescent AIDS cases in 1991
41,227: Total number of all AIDS cases in 2001
13,895: Number of black male adult/adolescent AIDS cases in 2001
7,023: Number of black female adult/adolescent AIDS cases in 2001
34: Percentage of U.S. AIDS cases that were black men in 2001
17: Percentage of U.S. AIDS cases that were black women in 2001

17. Some Myths About The Down Low Are Not True
41: Percent of black MSM disclosers who had unprotected anal intercourse
32: Percent of black MSM nondisclosers who had unprotected anal intercourse

18. Blacks Are Less Likely To Have Health Insurance Than Whites
45 million: Number of Americans who are uninsured
19.4: Percentage of blacks who are uninsured
11.1: Percentage of whites who are uninsured

19. Black Women Have Higher Life Expectancy Than Black Or White Men
74.7: Life expectancy for black women born in 1999
74.6: Life expectancy for white men born in 1999
67.8: Life expectancy for black men born in 1999

20. HIV Is A Leading Causes of Death for Young Black Men and Women
1: Rank of HIV as one of leading causes of death for black men 35-44
3: Rank of HIV as one of leading causes of death for black women 35-44
3: Rank of HIV as one of leading causes of death for black men 25-34
1: Rank of HIV as one of leading causes of death for black women 25-34


Note: These statistics are compiled online for internal use as a research tool by the author in preparation for his book. Please be sure to verify the statistics for the most current information before using this data. The data was published on this site on September 20, 2004 but backdated to January 1, 2004 to avoid prominent publication on the website. Data obtained is complied from various sources, including the U.S. Census Bureau, Centers for Disease Control, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Bureau of Labor Statistics, the National Center for Education Statistics and the American Council on Education. Please send any corrections to kb@keithboykin.com.