
The African American population is decidedly middle class. Strong evidence suggests that it is the only growing middle class market in the United States today. According to data collected by the government but rarely reported in the news, Black household incomes have grown faster than Asian, Hispanic, or non-Hispanic white household incomes over the past two decades. The median income of Black married couples ($61,081) far exceeds that of Hispanic couples ($49,914). Among Black couples, nearly one in four has an income of $100,000 or more. 84% of Blacks are high school graduates, and 70% go to college. Black workers are more likely to be managers and professionals than service workers. Among Black householders aged 45 or older, most are homeowners. The great majority of African Americans are happy with their neighborhoods (73%), satisfied with the public school their child attends (80%), and do not have crime in their area (75%). Nearly two out of three Blacks vote—a rate well above that of Asians or Hispanics.