Median Income of U.S. Families by Race

Year White (Dollars) Black (Dollars) Percentage of White Income (Black) Income Gap (Dollars) (Black) 

In 1978, William Julius Wilson published an influential and important book. The Declining Significance of Race, on the status of African Americans in the U.S. Cose (1993) is probably correct in his assessment that many individuals read the title and assumed that Wilson was arguing that race no longer mattered in America. A close reading of the text would suggest otherwise. Cose asserts that Wilson was more subtle and less exact in his argument. Wilson concluded that the life chances of individual African Americans were determined more by economic class position than by the daily encounters of whites. As evidence, 

Wilson showed the increased movement of African Americans in white-collar jobs and attendant life styles similar to their white peers however, he speaks to the issue of career mobility and final positions commensurate with their education and career experience. Wilson s primary concern focused on the plight of the black underclass-whose life chances could not be attributed solely to race. Furthermore, economic trends that changed the structure of work limited the socioeconomic positions of the very poor regardless of race or ethnicity (Cose, 1993). 

Another female interviewee said It is often difficult to divide time between home and work life. A female interviewee coimnented Being female and trying to balance family and career demands played a role in my tenure difficulties. I enjoy research but when you have family, you can t always stay in the lab 24 hours a day. This did affect my research productivity. One interviewee from industry remarked that Marriage brought out the best in me. My wife is highly motivated 

Note Percentages may not sum to 100% due to rounding. Source Survey of Earned Doctorates. 

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Table 2.4. Distribution of Median Income of U.S. Families by Race.

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