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12 Ways Black American Misery Continued to Expand, Even Under Obama’s Watch

Barack Obama’s presidential win in 2008 was hailed by some as ushering in a post-racial age in the U.S. However, recent numbers have shown that Black American progress continued to either halt or decline even under his watch. Despite these facts, a recent Pew survey found that the number of Blacks who think they are better off now than they were five years earlier almost doubled since 2007. Here are 12 ways Black progress has been reversed or halted during Obama’s administration.

Black moneyHousehold Income

From 2009 to 2012, median income declined by 3.6 percent for white households to $58,000, but fell 10.9 percent to $33,500 for Black households, according to the latest Census Bureau figures.

black wealth gap

Chris Harrison wealth gap illustration

Wealth

The Urban Institute estimates that between 2007 and 2010 Black families lost 31 percent of their wealth. White families, by comparison, lost 11 percent of their wealth. It also reported that the average white family had about $632,000 in wealth, versus $98,000 for Black families.

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