The Measurement and Interpretation of Black Wage and Occupational Gains: A Reevaluation

Important changes have occurred in the economic situation of black Americans over the last two decades. The reported convergence in black and white wages and occupational positions are critically important to understand. An awareness of the tenacity of racism should not lead us to argue that reality is static. At the same time, it would be a mistake to draw extreme conclusions about the crumbling of one of the historical building blocks of the U.S. economy. This article has been particularly motivated by the latter concern.