Please click on the section that you would like to visit. Food For Thought Main Page Home Page Black Alabama's Heroes Civil Rights....Civil Wrongs Speeches, Writing And Thoughts Black Sports In Alabama Links My Resume Contact Us Support thatsalabama.com	EMPLOYMENT, INCOME AND POVERTY FOR BLACK ALABAMIANS This page is intended to show employment, income and poverty statistics that are affecting the lives of Black Americans and Alabamians in the 21st century. We have made every effort to ensure that each statistic and piece of information that we have quoted in this section is referenced with a link to the web site where the information is available. If you find an error or a broken or out of date link, please email us and let us know. We would be delighted to hear any comments or suggestion concerning this page. If there is something that you would like us to add to these pages, please email us. STATISTICS The national unemployment rate for blacks is more than double the unemployment rate for whites. Source: The Bureau of Labor Statistics. In the United States, the average income for White families is 50% higher than that for black families. Source: U.S. Census Bureau and U.S. Census Bureau (again). Nationally, 23.6% of all black people live in poverty compared with just 7.7% of all white people. Source: U.S. Census Bureau EMPLOYMENT, INCOME AND POVERTY IN THE PREDOMINANTLY BLACK COUNTIES Due to the fact that many of the statistics listed above are not available broken down by race at a state and county level, we have only been able to demonstrate the racial divide at a national level. However, if you look at the figures for the 10 counties in Alabama where the black population is greater than 50%, the statistics are very worrying indeed. County Black Population In Percent Macon 84.6 Greene 80.3 Lowndes 73.4 Sumter 73.2 Bullock 73.1 Wilcox 71.9 Perry 68.4 Dallas 63.3 Hale 59.0 Marengo 51.7 Source: Fedstats: Alabama: Black or African American persons, percent, 2000 As you can see, each of these counties is in the "black belt" region of the state. This area was once extremely prosperous due to its suitability for cotton growth but is now extremely poor and is often described as "Alabama's Third World." The figures detailed below look at employment, income and poverty statistics in these 10 counties. Please note however, that unless specified, the figures apply to both the black and white population of these counties. UNEMPLOYMENT RATES County Unemployment Rates In Percent (March 2002) Macon 5.3 Greene 10.1 Lowndes 9.7 Sumter 8.7 Bullock 8.1 Wilcox 13.4 Perry 12.9 Dallas 11.3 Hale 10.5 Marengo 4.9 Average 9.5 State Average 5.2 National Average 5.7 National Average - Black 10.7 National Average - White 5.0 Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics. Source: Labor Force Statistics from the Current Population Survey. INCOME LEVELS County Median Household Income (March 2002) Macon $22,410 Greene $19,050 Lowndes $21,095 Sumter $20,605 Bullock $22,231 Wilcox $19,035 Perry $18,880 Dallas $24,005 Hale $21,976 Marengo $26,846 Average $21,613 State Average $33,204 National Average $38,885 Source: U.S. Census Bureau. PEOPLE LIVING IN POVERTY (ALL AGES) County Percentage Of People Living In Poverty (All Ages) Macon 29.6 Greene 32.7 Lowndes 28.9 Sumter 29.6 Bullock 28.0 Wilcox 33.8 Perry 33.3 Dallas 28.0 Hale 25.4 Marengo 22.5 Average 29.2 State Average 15.7 National Average (All Races) 11.8 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Housing and Household Economic Statistics Divsion. Source: U.S. Census Bureau. PEOPLE AGED UNDER 18 LIVING IN POVERTY County Percentage Of People Living In Poverty (Under 18) Macon 39.2 Greene 41.2 Lowndes 35.4 Sumter 36.3 Bullock 34.5 Wilcox 39.8 Perry 40.0 Dallas 37.3 Hale 33.0 Marengo 30.7 Average 36.7 State Average 23.4 National Average 18.9 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Housing and Household Economic Statistics Divsion. Source: U.S. Census Bureau. SIGN UP TO OUR EMAIL NEWSLETTER If you would like us to keep you updated with changes and improvements to thatsalabama.com, please enter your email address here:   Web www.thatsalabama.com If you would like to support thatsalabama.com with a donation via paypal, please click on this button:

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