A new report is revealing encouraging statistics about Black women and education.
According to findings compiled in a study by the National Center For Education Statistics, Black women have been obtaining degrees at a consistently high rate for the last eight years and counting. Information collected about the higher education among African-Americans between 2009 and 2010 shows that Black women accounted for 68 percent of associate’s degrees, 66 percent of bachelor’s degrees, 71 percent of master’s degrees and 65 percent of doctorate degrees awarded to Black students during that time frame.
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By both race and gender, the study also shows that Black women are enrolled in college at a higher percentage than any other group including white women, Asian women and white men.
However, while the study does shed light on many positive aspects of Black women and education, some of the overall statistics are still immensely troubling. For example, as of 2012, only 15 percent of students enrolled in college were African-American, a drastically low number relative to that of the 60 percent of white students enrolled.
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Additionally, while Black women continue to pursue higher education at increasing rates, they make up only eight percent of private sector jobs.
Overall, the study proves much of what most the Black community are already very much aware of: we’ve come a very long way but still have quite the journey ahead.
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