African-American women making strides in entrepreneurship

A new report by the Center for American Progress has shown that women of color are a major driving force in the United States economy by virtue of entrepreneurship. Women of color own about one-third of all women-owned firms in the U.S. Between 1997 and 2013, the number of female-owned firms and businesses in the U.S. grew by 59%, African-American women-owned businesses grew by 258%, the highest of any racial group. This increase in entrepreneurship has been attributed to inequalities and challenges faced by women of color in the traditional workplace. Some of these challenges include limited access to mentors, exclusion from elite networks, and gender wage gap. In 2012, African American women made 64 percent of their white male counterparts’ wages, compared to Latino women (53%), Asian women (87%), and White women (78%).

While there has been major growth and success experienced by African American women in entrepreneurship, challenges still remain. Almost half of all African American women business owners reported facing challenges in trying to obtain business financing. Research has shown that women are less likely to receive loans compared to their male counterparts. Also, minority-owned businesses encounter difficulties in receiving loans from financial institutions, compared to white-owned business. This puts African American women business owners in an extremely difficult and daunting predicament with being both a woman and a racial minority. Reducing prejudices and inequalities, especially in the financial sector, will help foster a successful and fruitful environment for African American women in the entrepreneurship sector.

Adedotun Ogunbajo, Joint Center Graduate Scholar, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health

 

New report show poor outcomes for African-American children

 

A new report released by the Annie E. Casey Foundation has shed light on various outcomes for children in the United States. Some of the outcomes measured include: babies born at normal birth-weight, fourth graders who scored at or above proficient in reading, children who live in two-parent families, children who live in low-poverty areas (poverty <20%), and high school students graduating on time. The report showed a disparity in many of these outcomes in African American children compared to children of other races.

Some key findings include:

• African-American babies were least likely to be born at a healthy birth-weight, which puts them at risk for developmental delays and death within the first year of life.
• African-American children are less likely to live in two-parent families.
• African-American children are the least likely group to live in neighborhoods that had low poverty rates.

Recommendations from report:

• Gather and analyze racial and ethnic data to inform all phases of programs, policies, and decision making
• Use data and impact assessment tools to target investments to yield the greatest impact for children of color
• Develop and implement evidence-based programs and practices focused on improving outcomes for children of color.

Adedotun Ogunbajo, Joint Center Graduate Scholar, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health

African Americans encounter disparities in treatment and outcome of atrial fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is an irregular and often rapid heart rate that commonly causes poor blood flow to the body.  A new study published in Ethnicity and Disease has shown a disparity in the diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes of AF between African American and White patients. This study analyzed data derived from 165,319 hospitalized patients with a diagnosis of AF. The data was part of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample dataset of the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) and it included 1051 hospitals in 40 states from January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2010.

Some key findings:

• African Americans are diagnosed with AF less often than their White counterparts.
• African Americans are less likely to receive standard in-hospital treatments for AF compared to their White counterparts.
• African American men have double the odds of dying during hospitalization for AF compared to White men.

The lead investigator of the study, Dr. Sahar Naderi, spoke to the gravity of the results derived from this study.

“While these are all associations and not confirmed disparities, I think we should be aware that there may be treatment differences in AF,” said Naderi. “At the end of the day, we can have all the technology we want, but if we’re not using it appropriately and considering it for all of our patients equally, we’re not providing effective healthcare.”

Adedotun Ogunbajo, Joint Center Graduate Scholar, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health

 

Barriers facing teachers of color (part 1)

A new report by the Center for American Progress has shed more light on the barriers and difficulties that inhibit diversification of teachers in the US education sector. It is widely known that the teaching force in the US is mostly comprised of caucasian teachers. However,  the general US population continues to diversify. This report outlines how the current system is failing students of color and how that inadvertently shrinks the pool of future minority teachers. Various barriers exists starting from elementary level education to retention of teachers of color. All of these  contribute to low representation on in the teaching workforce. Some of data presented in the paper include:

• African American students are less likely to graduate from high school and college, which serves as a major barrier to an eventual career as an educator.
• The pass rate of Praxis I and II, major teaching certification examinations , are twice as high in Whites compared to African Americans.
• Teachers of color are more likely to leave the teaching profession, with the major reason being  lack of support.

Adedotun Ogunbajo, Joint Center Graduate Scholar, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health

 

African Americans exposed to more polluted air than whites

A new study has found that communities of color are more likely than Whites to be exposed to pollution. This project was conducted by researchers at the University of Minnesota and published in the journal PLOS ONE. The researchers probed exposure to environmental pollutants stratified by income, education, education level, race and other factors but found race to be the domineering determining factor. Some key findings include:

• African-Americans and other minorities inhaled 38% more nitrogen dioxide (toxic pollutant) than Whites.
• These disparities were attributed to minorities being more likely than whites to live close to power plants and inhale vehicle exhaust.
• Individuals of lower income and education were also found to be more exposed to these toxic gases compared to their higher income and education counterparts.

The experimenter believe that these results will galvanize support to address environmental disparity in poor communities.

“Results given here provide strong US-wide evidence of ambient NO₂ air pollution injustice and inequality, establish a national context for studies of individual metropolitan areas and regions, and enable comprehensive tracking over time. Hopefully results given here will usefully allow policy-makers to identify counties and urban areas with highest priority NO₂ air pollution environmental justice and equality concerns.”

Adedotun Ogunbajo, Joint Center Graduate Scholar, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health

 

Students of color less likely to have effective teachers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A new report the Center for American Progress showed that low-income students and students of color were less likely to have “expert teachers.” The study utilized data gathered from two states (Louisiana & Massachusetts)  that have recently implemented a new teacher evaluation system. This information was cross referenced with information on poverty level of each school based on the percentage of student enrolled in free or reduced lunch programs as well as the percentage of students of color. In Louisiana, the effectiveness ratings of teachers were: “Ineffective”, “Effective-Emerging”, “Effective-Proficient”, and “Highly Effective”. The ratings for teachers in Massachusetts were: “Unsatisfactory”, “Needs Improvement”, “Proficient”, and “Exemplary”.

Key findings.

• In Louisiana, students in the highest poverty quartile were 3x more likely to me taught by a teacher rated as ineffective compared to students in the lowest poverty quartile.
• Also, there are about 40% less highly effective teachers in high-poverty schools compared to the low-poverty schools.
• Similar trends were observed in Massachusetts. Students in high-poverty schools were 3x more likely to be taught by teachers rated as “unsatisfactory.”
• High-poverty community students were less likely to be taught by a teacher rated as “proficient” and more likely to be taught by a teacher rated as “needs improvement.”

Some of the recommendations provided as a result of these findings were to:

1. Encourage effective teachers to move to disadvantaged schools through incentives such as differentiated compensation.
2. Improve the effectiveness of all teachers through proven professional development.
3. Improve recruitment of new teachers, with the goal of hiring an effective teacher workforce.

 

Adedotun Ogunbajo, Joint Center Graduate Scholar, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health

Companies lower healthcare costs for workers

 

With the passing and enactment of the Affordable Care Act, more than 7 million Americans have been afforded the opportunity to sign up for comprehensive healthcare coverage. A provision that came with the ACA was the formation of Employers Centers of Excellence Network, a program comprised of large companies like Walmart, Target, Wells Fargo, and Lowes. Under this program, employees of these companies are able to undergo free hip and knee replacements at several hospitals around the country. Also provided under this program are travel costs, hospital expenses, and expenses for both the employee and a caregiver that can accompany them to the hospital.

These provisions have major implications for the African American community. Walmart is the largest employer of African Americans in the United States. About 20% of Walmart’s 1.4 million employees are African American. This program could bring some well-needed financial relief to communities that need it the most.

 

Adedotun Ogunbajo, Joint Center Graduate Scholar, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health

Underemployment disproportionately high in African-American community

 

The problem of underemployment is one that affects the entire country but disproportionately impacts the African American community. An annual report by the National Urban League, One Nation Underemployed: Jobs Rebuild America,  found that African Americans were twice as likely as whites to be underemployed. Underemployment was defined as either currently being jobless or working part-time but desiring to work full-time. 

Key findings of the report:

• Underemployment rates by races: Whites- 11.8%, Hispanics-18.4%, African Americans- 20.5% 
• Unemployment rates by races: Whites- 6.5%, Hispanics-9.1%, African Americans- 13.1% 
• Oklahoma City, Okla., Washington D.C., and Harrisburg, PA had the lowest African American unemployment rates of 80 metropolitan cities across the county.

Adedotun Ogunbajo, Joint Center Graduate Scholar, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health

Are you really healthy? Disparity in self-rated and physical health

 

What can be said of perceptions around being healthy in the African American community? A new study published in the journal Ethnicity & Disease showed a discrepancy between self-rated health and physical health in the African American community. The study analyzed data retrieved from 1,200 individuals in the Faith, Activity and Nutrition program. This program propagates healthy living, like eating fruits and vegetables and regularly exercising, in members of 74 churches across South Carolina.

Some key findings of the study include:

•  Participants who rated their health with high marks were less likely to have high cholesterol, obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and arthritis. There were also more likely to be physically active and to eat healthy.
• Surprisingly, many individuals who rated their health high had several chronic diseases.
• The authors stated, “A lot of people had hypertension and obesity, and they really didn’t engage in healthy behaviors, but they still rated their own health as good to excellent.” 

 

Adedotun Ogunbajo, Joint Center Graduate Scholar, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health

PLUS Problems for HBCUs

Dianne Hayes’ article “Obama Administration Plans Changes to Parent PLUS Loans” explains that Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have seen a 19% drop in funding due to student loan denials as a result of the U.S. Department of Education’s change in the eligibility requirements for Parent PLUS loans.  Many parents who previously used the PLUS loans were denied and could not cover the cost of their children attending college according to Allie Bidwell’s US News and World Report article.  Bidwell explains that proponents of the change indicate that new eligibility requirements address the issue of families borrowing more than they can afford to repay because previously there was no cap in the amount of the PLUS loans that could be taken out.  The same article notes that opponents of the change say that many students from low-income families will no longer be able to afford the cost of college.

Hayes explains that civic organizations including the Congressional Black Caucus, NAFEO, UNCF, Thurgood Marshall College Fund, as well as parents and students put pressure on the U.S. Department of Education to address the drastic change in PLUS loan eligibility.  In response, the U.S. Department now qualifies families with recent but small-scale debt for PLUS loans by appeal.

The United Negro College Fund (UNCF) says more changes need to be made.  The UNCF’s report “An Urgent Crisis Facing Students at the Nation’s HBCUs” suggests the U. S. Department of Education take following remedial steps:

• Immediately restore old eligibility criteria & grandfather in students who previously received Parent PLUS loans
• In the short term, provide alternative means by which families can pay for college & meet with HBCU presidents to devise a better plan
• In the long term: “implement statutory changes to improve the PLUS Loan program”

Patrice Garnette, Joint Center Graduate Scholar, The George Washington University Law School