The Atlantic posted several graphs from a recent Census Bureau report on income and poverty as of 2010. The racial differences in median household income are truly awful; half of African American families make less than $32,000 a year. Stop and just seriously think, for a second, about the dramatic difference in access to resources — decent housing, some savings for emergencies, retirement accounts, etc. — these numbers translate into:
Not surprisingly, the percentage of Americans falling below the poverty line rose:
For more on income, poverty, and health insurance coverage, check out the full Census Bureau report.
Comments 6
Cocojams Jambalayah — September 15, 2011
Actually, I'd like readers of this blog of (it appears to me to be) mostly priviledged folks to think for much more than a second about this issue. I'd also like them to do more than think about it-even if it hurts their pocketbook.
(As for my pocketbook, as a retired African American, I make much less than $32,000 a year. But I make do thanks to help from a family member.)
PinkWithIndignation — September 15, 2011
Asians, we all know you are going to rule the world. You can stop showing off now. Seriously, anyone else notice how in these graphs Asians almost always have more income/education than everyone else? And I remember one religion chart where Hindus made the most money on average. It's weird I find that sexy, right?
Imagine There’s No Gender: It’s Not Easy, But We Can Try : Ms Magazine Blog — September 30, 2011
[...] U.S. Census, we would no longer know whether children of color have higher risks than white kids of poverty or exposure to pollution. Sadly, they do, and post-racial colorblindness is absolutely no way to [...]