Disparities and Outcomes

March 24, 2023

Political activists and social justice pundits regularly use “outcomes” to promote and justify their positions and actions. These activists cite government published data, newspaper articles, and quotes from “experts” to claim the “outcome” demonstrates their position. But these activists fail to report the total picture and more significantly the major dynamics behind these “outcomes.”

Often, the “outcome” cited is referring to a particular group of people usually by race and/or gender. Black people as a group are used most often. Activists cite an “outcome” like average income per household showing Black family income on average to be below the income of white families. To the racial activist, the data clearly shows racial oppression, almost always placing the “blame” on whites. Income is affected by many factors especially education and family structure. Black families in NC are 76% single-parent households. Single wage earner as well. White families are 24% single parent, meaning white families often have (50% to 76%) dual incomes. This explains the disparity in “outcomes.” It is not oppression from the whites. The Black marriage rate has significantly declined over the last 30-40 years. See chart above. Compared to whites, the Black marriage rate is almost half.

If one group of people achieves less than another group, then the higher achieving group must be oppressing to lower group. This is complete nonsense.

In another example, math scores for high school students in NC vary by race. Black students score lower than Asians and whites. That data (outcome) is reported in the press and on social media. The activists claim whites are oppressing Black students. They go further and claim “systemic racism” as the cause of this lower “outcome.” Black students at Charter Schools score equal to whites in math. That is very interesting!

If “systemic racism” exists in the US. and Blacks are the oppressed group, why does that not equally apply to sports and entertainment. The NBA is 74% Black players. The NFL is 70% Black. Also, there are a huge number of highly successful Black entertainers, singers, actors, celebrities, newscasters, commentors, TV hosts, fashion models, etc. Where is the “systemic racism?”

“Outcomes” will always vary by group. There will always be the “lower 20%.”