Has MLK's dream been realized? - -LABOR

In the past, African Americans had a lot of trouble getting good jobs and wages, but they have come a long way since then. In the span between 2000 and 2004, African American wages have jumped 50$ per week, and continue to grow. Black unemployment rate has also dropped significantly. The Black participation rate of their civilian labor force is equal to that of the whites as well. They are also are able to get better jobs because of their improved education. White and Black percentages are about the same for different academic achievements.

Equality hasn't been reached yet though. Though their statistics are improving, they still aren't equal to that of the whites. The white unemployment rate is 4% lower than the white unemployment rate, African Americans tend to get the lower paying and worse jobs than the whites, and the white wages are still a lot higher than the black wages. Also, African Americans may recieve the same academic achievement as whites, but their unemployment rate is lower in those areas. African Americans are getting better jobs, but they still aren't the same as those of the whites.

There are definetely a few ways that this can be changed. One way is by encouraging blacks to get a higher education. Blacks have a higher unemployment rate than whites in the different areas of degrees. In the statistics it shows a large drop in unemployment for those who achieve higher in education. This is what affirmative action attempts to do, give blacks equal oppurtunity in schools. Unfortunately the unemployment rates clearly show inequality between blacks and whites, and the government needs to get involved and make an affirmative action type program for jobs.