As I decorated my grad cap I was conflicted over doing a Black Lives Matter tribute or simply using a quote. My best friend then stated, "it sucks that black people are in protest even during a time of success."
In 2015, of the 25,420 black people over the age 25 surveyed, 25% of them held a Bachelor's degrees or higher, and 32% of that number held Associates degrees. Graduating from college is far more than just a college experience and a Degree for black people. Often times it is a monumental moment as graduates are the first generation of college graduates in their family -- facing many hardships to get there.
BLM and police brutality
The murder of black people by police have been captured on live tv, and overt racism has been shown in college and professional settings. Without a trust fund or a solid financial background, paying for college can be challenging. Not to mention, being aware that you might not be hired because of the color of your skin is still a concern.
So in turn, when a black person graduates from college it is more than just a moment for that particular person. It is an ode to their families, friends, and all of the people that were unable to achieve such a goal for themselves.
What still needs to be done
Though there are more black people that are college graduates, there is still a large discrepancy.
In a lot of cases, black college graduates apply for and need more student loans than white graduates. That means that winding up in debt after college will be more challenging.
Discrimination also still plays a large role in post-college success for black people. According to John Schmitt, a senior economist at the Center for Economic and Policy Research, the jobless rate for black people between the ages 22 to 27 last year was 12.4 percent in comparison to 4.9 percent for white graduates.
Statistics also show that the unemployment rate for white people that did not complete high school is lower than that of black college graduates.
While some graduates can find themselves unemployed, it is also common for black graduates to be underemployed. Even in STEM fields, black graduates are not being hired at the same rate of their white counterparts.
With this information, do not be discouraged, just be keenly aware of the institutional racism that still exists in America. Keep applying for jobs, make connections, and build your skill set. Black people have overcome a lot, and there is still a long way to go.
