Black History Month

Me:" Corey on your way to Velour can you do me a HUGE favor?"
Corey." What is it?"
Me. " I got a package delivered and I need you to take it to Velour so no one takes it."
Corey." What is it?"
Me." My hair"
Corey." YOUR HAIR IS ON YOUR FRONT PORCH."
( laughing)
Me." yes, in a box, and so go it, cause it's expensive."
(laughing) Corey" Some dog's probably running down the street with your hair."
Me; " it's in a box."
Corey." Sure, I'll go get your hair off the front porch"
Me." thanks, I'll pick it up tonight"

Did You Know?

To recall and celebrate the positive contributions to our nation made by people of African descent, American historian Carter G. Woodson established Black History Week. The first celebration occured February 12, 1926. For many years, the second week of February was set aside for this celebration to coincide with the birthdays of Black abolitionist/editor Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. In 1976, as part of the nation's bicentennial, the week was expanded into Black History Month.
Population Distribution

- As of July 1, 2005, there were an estimated 39.7 million black residents in the United States, including those of more than one race. They made up 13.4 percent of the total U.S. population. This figure represents an increase of half a million residents from one year earlier.

- The projected single-race black population of the United States as of July 1, 2050 is 61.4 million. On that date, according to the projection, blacks would constitute 15 percent of the nation's total population.

- The estimated black population of New York on July 1, 2004 was 3.5 million, the highest of any state. Four other states had black populations that surpassed 2 million: Florida, Texas, California and Georgia. About 85,900 blacks were added to Florida's population between July 1, 2003, and July 1, 2004. That is the largest numeric increase of any state in the nation. Georgia and Texas added 61,800 and 45,000, respectively.

- As of July 1, 2004, 59 percent of the District of Columbia's population was identified as black - the highest rate for this race group of any state or state-equivalent in the nation. The District of Columbia was followed by Mississippi (37 percent), Louisiana (33 percent) and Georgia, Maryland and South Carolina (30 percent each).

- 1.4 million blacks lived in Cook County, Ill., as of July 1, 2005. Cook led all the nation's counties in the number of people of this racial category. Broward County, Fla., had the largest numerical increase (17,900) between 2003 and 2004. Los Angeles County, CA., also topped the 1 million mark.

- 31% of the black population was under 18 as of July 1, 2005. At the other end of the spectrum, 8 percent of the black population was 65 or older.
Businesses

- $88.6 billion in revenues for black-owned businesses in 2002, up 24 percent from 1997. The number of black-owned businesses totaled 1.2 million in 2002, up by 45 percent since 1997. Black-owned firms accounted for 5 percent of all nonfarm businesses in the United States.

- 129,329: The number of black-owned firms in New York in 2002, which led all states. New York City alone had 98,080 such firms, which led all cities.

- 10,716: The number of black-owned firms operating in 2002 with receipts of $1 million or more. These firms accounted for 1 percent of the total number of black-owned firms in 2002 and 55 percent of their total receipts, or $49 billion.

- 969: The number of black-owned firms with 100 or more employees in 2002. Firms of this size accounted for 24 percent of the total revenue for black owned employer firms in 2002, or $16 billion.
Education

- 80% of blacks age 25 and older had at least a high school diploma in 2005. In states such as Colorado, the proportion was even higher - 90 percent. (Source: 2005 American Community Survey)

- 17% of blacks 25 and older had a bachelor's degree or higher in 2005. In many states, the rate was higher. Twenty-six percent of blacks this age in Colorado, for instance, had this level of education. (Source: 2005 American Community Survey)

- 1.1 million blacks age 25 and older had an advanced degree in 2005 (e.g., master's, Ph.D., M.D. or J.D.). Ten years earlier - in 1995 - only 677,000 blacks had this level of education.

- For the 2005 school year, 2.3 million black college students were enrolled. This was an increase of roughly 1 million from 15 years earlier.
Income, Poverty and Health Insurance

- The annual median income of black households in 2005 is $30,858. In constant dollars, this is up from $25,642 in 1985.

- $33,077: The 2005 median earnings of black men 15 years old and over who worked full time, year-round. This compares to the median earnings of $29,672 for corresponding black women.

- The poverty rate in 2004 for those reporting black as their only race was 24.9%. This rate was down from 31.3% in 1985.

- 60% of black citizens age 18 and older voted in the 2004 presidential election. That amounted to 14 million voters. The percentage of those voting is up 3 percentage points from the previous election. Blacks had the highest turnout rate of any minority group in 2004.

- 19.6% of blacks lacked health insurance in 2005.
Families and Children

- There are 9.1 million black families in the United States. Of these, nearly one-half (47 percent) are married-couple families.

- 11% of black children live in a household maintained by a grandparent.

- 46% of black householders own their own home, nationally. The rate was higher in certain states, such as Mississippi, where it reached 56 percent.
Military Service

- There are 2.4 million black military veterans in the United States in 2004. (Source: American FactFinder)
Jobs

- 26% of blacks age 16 and older work in management, professional and related occupations. (Source: American FactFinder)

- There are 44,000 black physicians and surgeons; 79,400 postsecondary teachers; 45,200 lawyers; and 49,300 chief executives. (Source: Upcoming Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2007)

Data courtesy of the U.S. Census Bureau