Muncie Times, Muncie, Delaware County, 3 February 1994 — Page 15

The Muncie Times, Thursday, February 3,1994, Page 15

There will be 35 million African Americans by year 2000

P¥! he following historical facts regarding AfriJL can Americans were furnished by the U.S. Dept, of the Census: POPULATION In 1790, when the first census was taken, African Americans numbered about 760,000. In 1860, at the start of the Civil War, the African American population had increased to 4.4 million, and doubled by 1900 to 8.8 million. African Americans reached the 15 million mark in 1950, and close to 27 million by 1980. According to the 1990 census, there were abnout 30 million African Ameri-cans-about 12 percent of the total U.S. population. The African American population is projected to be over 35 million by the year 2000. More recent statistics include: HEALTH INSURANCE About 20 percent of African Americans were without health insurance coverage in 1992, a proportion not significantly different from the percent of African Americans in poverty. BUSINESS Sales and receipts from firms owned by African American men were double those of businesses owned by African American women-$13.2 billion versus $6.5 billion in 1987. EDUCATION About two-thirds of African Americans 25 and older were high school graduates in 1992. About one in eight had a bachelor’s degree or more. FAMILIES African American families in 1992 are almost evenly split between traditional married-couple families and those main- - — tained- by-women with no -

spouse present. EARNINGS The median earnings of African American men 25 and over who were yearround, full-time workers was $23,311 for high school graduates in 1992; $28,427 for those with an associate’s degree; $31,322 for those with a bachelor’s degree; and $41,691 for those with a post-graduate degree. Comparable figures for African American women were $17,333, $23,171, $28,344, and $32,931 respectively. The median earnings ratio of African American women to African American men increased from 75 percent in 1979 to 85 percent in 1991. POVERTY Between 1989 and 1992, the number and proportion of African Americans in poverty increased from 9.3 million to 10.6 million and from 30.7 percent to 33.3 percent. Nearly 5 out of 10 African American children under 18 were poor in 1992, compared with 4 out of 10 Hispanic origin children and less than 2 out of 10 White children. HOMEOWNERS AND RENTERS A larger proportion of African American householders were renters (56 percent) than owners (42 percent) in 1992. OCCUPATIONS In 1992, there were more African American women (6.1 million) than men (5.8 million) in the civilian labor force. A higher proportion of African American women than men were employed in managerial and professional specialty occupations (20 compared to 14 percent) and in service occupations (28 compared -to 19 percent}.-Conversely,

the proportion of African American men employed in precision production, craft, and repair jobs (15 percent) was seven times that of African American women (2 percent). MARITAL STATUS In 1980, 45 percent of African American women 15 and older were married; by 1992, that proportion had declined to 38

percent. The corresponding figures for African American men were 49 and 42 percent. WORKING POOR In 1991, African Americans (15 percent) were more than twice as likely than whites (6 percent) to be “working poor”--that is, with income below the poverty level while holding

a job. To find more statistics on African Americans, consult: The Black Population in the United States: March 1992 (P20-47U. We. The American Blacks. Survey of Minority-own-ed Business Enterprises. 1990 Census Profile: Race and Hispanic Origin.

Malcolm X was bom 69 years ago

¥¥ e was born Malcolm H Little in Omaha, II Neb. His father, the Rev. Earl Little, was a Baptist minister and a strong supporter of Marcus Garvey’s back-to-Africa movement. After threats from some whites, the Little family moved to Milwaukee, Wis., before settling in Lansing, Mich. Malcolm was 6 when his father was bludgeoned to death and his body laid across a streetcar track. The police called the death “accidental,” while an insurance company called it “suicide.” After that the family gradually split up and their mother was sent to a mental institution. Such were the humble, even inauspicious beginnings of the man who would become one of the Nation of Islam’s foremost orators. Malcolm, nicknamed “Detroit Red,” was involved in petty crime at an early age. He was 13 when he was expelled from school. He was almost 21 in February 1946 when he was sentenced to 10 years in prison for running a burglary ring. Prison turned out to be a life-saver for him. He heard about the Nation of Islam, star-

ted corresponding with its leader, Elijah Muhammad, and learned to pray and to eschew liquor, drugs and immorality. After his release in August 1952, the self-edu-cated Malcolm Little (who had by now taken the Muslim name Malcolm X) went to work for the Nation of Islam. He helped popularize the religion and also organized and opened mosques across the country. Eventually he fell out with the Muslims. He broke away and formed his own Muslim Mosque, Inc. After visiting Mecca, he returned home. On June 28, 1964, he founded the Organization for AfroAmerican Unity to campaign for black freedom and civil rights. Malcolm X, a powerful speaker, also began to link the African American struggle with the African freedom struggle. On Feb. 14, 1965, his Long Island house was fire bombed. Malcolm, his pregnant wife and their four daughters escaped injury. But a week later, on Feb. 21, 1965, Malcolm X was gunned down at an Audubon Ballroom rally in Harlem, New York City. Three Black Muslims

were arrested and later convicted in the Malcolm X killing. Malcolm X would have been 69 this month. Although he has been dead for almost 26 years, his militant message remains alive. Young people, who were not even born when he died, regard him as one of their heroes and see him as a symbol of tough, disciplined and uncompromising African Americanism. Even some of today’s rappers see him as their guiding spirit. In 1845, Scotts were Muncie's only Negro family ■ “One of the earliest negro families in Muncie was that of Edward and Maria Scott. He had been bom in Virginia about 1809, she in North Carolina around 1827. “Married in Henry County, they moved toMuncietownin 1845. They had eight children. Edward, who was a barber, died in 1861. His widow subsequently married Henry Artist, also a barber. Although Mr. Artist died in 1864, Mrs. Artist remained and later helped found Muncie's first Negrocburch-Forfive years the Scotts were the only Negro family (in Muncie), until Silas Shoecraft arrived in 1850. Mr. Shoecraft left after eight years but returned in 1874.’’ A History of Negroes in Mimde by Huriey Goodall J. Paid Mitchell • • * * s. ‘ * m , .