Education Doesn’t Close Racial Employment or Earnings Gaps

And no, it’s not because whites and Blacks get degrees in different subjects

Photo by Andre Hunter on Unsplash

Whenever the subject of racial inequality in the labor market is raised — say, for instance, the higher unemployment rates or lower earnings of Black folks relative to whites in America, even among those with college degrees — those who seek to deny the ongoing reality of systemic racial barriers facing African Americans retreat to a common refrain.

“Well,” they snap back. “What can you expect when you get your degrees in Black studies or some other useless area like that?”

It’s a blatantly racist response, of course.

After all, few would question the inherent validity of a degree in European history, general American history, or coursework in the great literature of Western Civilization. Oh sure, they might question the marketability of such degrees a bit, but with nowhere near the mocking and derisive tone reserved for those who study the history, narratives, or cultures of non-white peoples.

But it’s a reply that is more than just racist; it’s also rooted in fundamental ignorance. Because, in truth, it simply isn’t the case that whites tend to get degrees in more lucrative fields than Black folks. White college…