February 5, 2009 Issue
February Is National African-American History Month
Governor Proclaims Black History Month
Governor Bev Perdue has proclaimed February as Black History Month in North Carolina and urges citizens to honor the heritage of African-Americans and their contributions to our state and nation.
The N.C. Department of Cultural Resources has a special podcast on its website featuring an interview with photographer Chris Sims, who is helping tell North Carolina’s civil rights story. The Telling Our Stories Photography Exhibit will travel around the state this year. For more information about the exhibit and a schedule of locations, click to www.ncculture.com/TOS_2008/TOS_home.asp.
The podcast also features a discussion with Jeffrey Crow, deputy secretary of the Department of Cultural Resources for Archives and History, who is co-author of A History of African-Americans in North Carolina. To listen to the podcast online, click to www.news.ncdcr.gov/2009/01/16/nc-photo-stories-civil-rights-history.
To commemorate and celebrate the contributions to the nation made by people of African descent, American historian Carter G. Woodson established Black History Week, with the first celebration occurring on February 12, 1926. For many years, the second week of February was set aside for this celebration to coincide with the birthdays of abolitionist/editor Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. In 1976, as part of the nation’s bicentennial, the week was expanded into Black History Month. Each year, U.S. presidents proclaim February as National African-American History Month.
Courtesy of the U.S. Census Bureau, here are some facts about African Americans in the United States.
40.7 million As of July 1, 2007, the estimated population of black residents in the United States, including those of more than one race. This number is equivalent to 13.5 percent of the total U.S. population and represents an increase of more than half a million residents from one year earlier.
65.7 million The projected black population of the United States (including those of more than one race) for July 1, 2050. On that date, according to the projection, blacks would constitute 15 percent of the nation’s total population.
18
Number of states with an estimated black population on July 1, 2007, of at least 1 million. New York, with 3.5 million, led the way. The 17 other states are Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia.
24
Number of states or equivalents in which blacks are the largest minority group: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
31%
The proportion of the black population younger than 18 as of July 1, 2007. At the other end of the spectrum, 8 percent of the black population was 65 and older.
2.4 million Number of single-race black military veterans in the United States in 2007. More military veterans are black than any other minority group.
82%
Among single-race blacks 25 and older, the proportion who had at least a high school diploma in 2007.
19%
Percentage of single-race blacks 25 and older who had a bachelor’s degree or higher in 2007.
1.2 million Among single-race blacks 25 and older, the number who had an advanced degree (master’s, doctorate, medical or law) in 2007. In 1997, 717,000 blacks had this level of education.
2.3 million Number of single-race black college students in fall 2006, an increase of roughly 1 million from 15 years earlier.
27%
The percentage of single-race blacks 16 and older who work in management, professional and related occupations. There are 49,730 black physicians and surgeons, 70,620 postsecondary teachers, 49,050 lawyers, and 57,720 chief executives.
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