African Americans at the
Millennium
1980-2010
Socioeconomic Disparity
Health Issues
Culture
A Quote
O “African America is bound together not only
in celebration of a common culture and
individual achievement, but also by a sense
of otherness and threat.” – p.570
O Write a response identifying the celebrations
and struggles African Americans face today;
High Achieving Blacks
O Many new faces have joined the ranks of “high
achieving blacks in the US through their roles in
entertainment, education, sports and
government.
Economic Security
O Anti-discrimination laws and Affirmative
Action opens doors to white collar positions
for black men and women in the US;
O 1940: Only 5.2% (men) / 6.4% (women)
O 2000: 35.3% (men) / 62.3% (women)
O Average wealth still far behind – Why?
O Heritage of poverty
O Economic downturn in 2009  Hits blacks
hard  16% unemployment vs. 9% white
Persistence of Poverty
O Although many blacks saw increases in income
by 2000, many remained in poverty.
O Urban neighborhoods lack social & economic
opportunities.
O Southern rural areas become mechanized
O Children heavily impacted by poverty;
O In 2008, more than 55% of all blacks under 18
lived in one parent households.
O Single parent households frequently suffer from
low income, meager public assistance, poor
housing and inferior schools.
Incarceration: A Racial Study
O From 1954 to 2005, the black prison
population increased 900% (98,000 to
910,000)
O Blacks make up 46% of the prison
population, yet only make up 12% of the US
population.
O The largest # of black women in prison are
between 30-44 in age / men are 20-35 in
age.
The Health Gap
O Cancer & HIV – greatest threat
O Black men are more likely to develop cancer
and die within 5 years of diagnosis at much
higher rates then whites.
O Smoking, drinking, obesity and ignorance of
health care are large causes
O African Americans are the most likely racial
group in the US to have HIV/AIDS.
O The announcement by Magic Johnson in 1991,
and deaths of Arthur Ashe in 1993 and Easy-E
in 1995 dramatically raised awareness.
Art & Culture
O Since the 1980’s, African Americans have
had a cultural renaissance.
O Playwrights
O Authors
O Film
O Music
O Differed from the 1960’s and 1970’s
because it was open and inclusive to women
and gay/lesbian.
Hip-Hop: A Distinctly Black Art Form
O Most commercially successful genre of black
music.
O 1973
O Kool Herc in South Bronx
O Afrika Bambaataa and the Zulu Nation
O 1979
O Rapper’s Delight- Sugar Hill Gang
O The Message- Grand Master Flash & The Furious
5
O Early forms of spoken word, along with early
blues, jazz, rock, soul and bee-bop contributed
to the Hip-Hop movement.