A Portrait of Mississippi- Ben 3/26/09

The data provided in the analysis of Mississippi provided results that are already common knowledge. African Americans in Mississippi are disadvantaged.  The average African American today has the opportunities of African Americans thirty years ago. It seems that the times have brought about social changes, however, the economic opportunities have not increased.  There is a twenty three year gap between the human development of an African American and that of a white American.

The analysis also shows that women lead men in almost every category except income.  We are more educated and more healthy.  We even have a higher overall grasp on human development.  Yet, at the end of the day, men are given higher paying jobs. That's two strikes for me!!

When the two factors are combined, race and gender, the following results are rendered.  White American men earn more money than White American women. African American men earn more than African American women. Of course both white groups earn more than both black groups. The snail will never meet the hare if the hare continues to dictate the life of the snail.

Map

One map that I found interesting depicts the teen pregnancy rate in 2007. The results were not surprising. The counties in the Delta have higher teen pregnancy rates than other counties in the state.  It is almost conclusive that for this reason the income for food stamps is also higher in the Delta counties.

Map(2)