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Business Gains Among Blacks Trail Other Minorities

African-Americans have made strides but they still lag behind other minorities in business and education, according to research by history professor Juliet Walker. Despite a steady increase in the number of black-owned businesses and earnings over the past 30 years, Walker says that their receipts amount to just one percent of the nation's total business receipts. She blames "systemic racism" for much of the problem but also acknowledges the failure of black businesses to appeal to the black community. The gains of Asian and Hispanic businesses have outstripped those of blacks. Walker's findings were included in a report compiled by the National Urban League called "The State of Black America 2000."

Winter 2001