The Challenge of Understanding the Mental Health of African Americans: The Risks and Rewards of Segregation, Support, and John Henryism

Abstract

The educational, employment, and financial status of African Americans differs from that of other US race/ethnic groups, particularly White Americans. For example, in July 2006, it was estimated that 23.8 million Americans aged between 18 and 64 years, or 12.6% of the total US population, were African American. Of the African American noninstitutionalized, civilian population, 11.3 million (47.5%) were male, and 12.5 million (52.5%) were female (US Census Bureau 2006d). According to the 2004 Current Population Survey, the majority of African American adults (54%) reside in the South. In 2006, 8.2 million African American adults aged 18–64 years (36.1%) earned a high school diploma, while 2.7 million (11.9%) earned a bachelor’s degree compared to 30.3 and 20.4% of non-Hispanic White Americans who earned a high school diploma or bachelor’s degree, respectively (US Census Bureau 2006b). The average African-American family median income in 2006 was US$ 32,372 in comparison to US$ 52,375 for non-Hispanic White families (US Census Bureau 2006a). In 2006, the US Census Bureau reported that 25.3% of African Americans were living at or below the poverty level, compared to 9.3% for White Americans. Forty-eight percent of African Americans owned their own home, while over three-quarters of White Americans were homeowners in 2006 (US Census Bureau 2006c). As of July 2007, the unemployment rate for African Americans (8%) was twice that of White Americans (4%) (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Employment Statistics Survey 2007). One-third (33%) of African-American adults aged 19–64 years were uninsured or experiencing a gap in coverage during 2005 compared to 20% for their White American counterparts(Doty and Holmgren 2006). It is not difficult to conclude that many of the benefits derived from improved socioeconomic standing vary by racial group membership (Conley 1999; Krieger et al. 1997; Oliver and Shapiro 1995; Shapiro 2004; Williams and Collins 1995).