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The State of the Dream 2004: Enduring Disparities in Black and White

Education

"As Negroes have struggled to be free they have had to fight for the opportunity for a decent education."

--Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Speech, March 14, 1964

High School Education

• The dropout rate for Black high school students has declined 44% since the murder of Dr. King in 1968, while the white dropout rate has risen slightly.

[image:] Graph with the following text:
Annual High School Dropout Rate, 1968 and 2001
For Students in Grades 10-12
1968 White 4.5%
1968 Black 10.1%
2001 White 4.6%
2001 Black 5.7%
Years to Parity: 8
Parity Year: 2009

Source: 1970: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, School Enrollment Historical Tables, Table A-4. See Appendix for Years to Parity calculation.

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16 United for a Fair Economy • Racial Wealth Divide Project