Education, education, education … it can lead to more opportunities, but it is not a panacea

Black Enterprise, Nov, 1995 by Edward Irons

Most African Americans know the mantra: If you get an education, everything else in life follows. And it's good advice on its face. No one argues that, in general, having an education means you'll earn more money.

In fact, a 1992 U.S. Department of Education report says that, compared with the poorest 20% of the U.S. population, the wealthiest 20% has a two-to-one chance of finishing high school, while the middle-income group is one and a half times more likely to finish high school. that is, 80% of high-income families will finish high school, while only 40% of low-income families will finish.

But, when race is held constant, it's clear that while education is a function of economics, white males--whether educated or not--still hold and wield economic power in this country.

It's also clear that high school grads get jobs at a higher rate and make more money than non-graduates. For example, in 1992, 63% of male high school grads between the ages of 16 and 24 were likely to be employed. Only 36% of people in this group without high school diplomas had jobs. But, during the 20-year period ending in 1992, white high school dropouts were still more likely to be employed than black high school grads.

Unsurprisingly, in addition to lower employment rates, high school dropouts have lower incomes. But black graduates still earn less than white grads do. In fact, some white high school graduates make more money than some black college grads.

In spite of this "negative affirmative action," black people still pursue higher education. In 1960, for example, whites completed 12.3 grades on average and blacks completed 10.8 grades. But by 1993, blacks were within 0.1 grades of whites in grades completed--12.9 grades versus 13.0, a tiny, meaningless gap.

Yet, despite this progress, the black/ white family income gap has widened. In 1970, black families, on average, earned only 61 cents for every dollar white families earned.

The conclusion is clear. An inverse relationship exists between black education attainment and black family earnings. This doesn't mean education can't increase income. But education has rewarded blacks less than it has whites.