Tag Archives: race

Why Are Black Americans Protesting?

Violent clashes between black Americans — particularly young black men — and police in cities such as Baltimore, Maryland, and Ferguson, Missouri, call into question how much progress the United States has really made in fulfilling the promise of equal rights for all Americans. We ask: Which of the following statements about black Americans are true today?

A. Unemployed at twice the rate of white Americans.
B. More likely to leave high school without a diploma.
C. Have significantly less wealth.
D. Far more likely to be victims of serious violent crime.

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African Americans and the Civil Rights Act at 50

Fifty years ago, U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 into law. The landmark law was designed to protect the ability of black Americans to vote, to ensure justice and to improve educational and employment opportunities. We wonder: Which of the following statements about black Americans are true today?

A. They are unemployed at twice the rate of white Americans.
B. They are more likely to leave high school without a diploma.
C. They have significantly less wealth.
D. They are far more likely to be victims of serious violent crime.

Continue reading →