Census Bureau Special Edition Facts for Features: The 50th Anniversary of the "I Have a Dream" Speech and the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom: Aug. 28

1963

2012

20,255,067

The total estimated black population in the United States.

44,456,009

The total estimated black population in the United States.

10.7%

The estimated percentage of the U.S. population that was black.

14.2%

The estimated percentage of the U.S. population that was black.

1964

2012

58.5%

The percent of the total black population 18 years and older who voted in the presidential election.

62%

The percent of the total black population 18 years and older who voted in the presidential election.

69.3%

The percent of the total U.S. population 18 and older that voted in the presidential election.

56.5%

The percent of the total U.S. population 18 and older that voted in the presidential election.

1970

2011

1,469

The number of black elected officials, the first year this kind of information was collected.

10,500

The estimated number of black elected officials.

1963

2011

$22,266 (in 2011 dollars)

The median family income for blacks was 55 percent of the median income for all American families.

$40,495

The median family income for the black-alone population was 66 percent of the median income for all American families.

$25,826 and $14,651 (in 2011 dollars)

Median income of black men and black women who worked full time, year-round.

$40,273 and $35,146

Median income of single-race black men and black women who worked full time, year-round.

1966

2011

41.8%

Poverty rate for blacks — 1966 is the closest year these statistics are available to the historic speech. Nationally, the poverty rate for all races was 14.7 percent.

27.6%
Poverty rate for single-race blacks. Nationally, the poverty rate for all races was 15 percent.

1970

2011

41.6%

Homeownership rate for blacks — 1970 is the earliest this information is available for race.

43.4%
Homeownership rate for blacks.

15.3%

Percentage of U.S. renter occupied housing units that were black households.

19.3%

Percentage of U.S. renter occupied housing units that were black households.

1964

2012

25.7%

Percentage of blacks age 25 and over who completed at least four years of high school.

85.0%

Percentage of blacks age 25 and over who completed at least four years of high school.

2.4 million

Number of  blacks 25 and over with at least four years of high school.

20.3 million

Number of blacks 25 and over with at least a high school diploma.

1964

2012

2.6 million

Number of black undergraduate college students in 2011 — this is more than 10 times as many as 1964.

3.9%

Percent of blacks age 25 and over who completed at least four years of college.

21.2%

Percent of blacks age 25 and over who completed at least four years of college.

365,000

Number of blacks who had at least a bachelor's degree.

5.1 million

Number of blacks who had at least a bachelor's degree.