Clarence Page takes a closer look at a well-camouflaged model minority in the U.S.—new black immigrants.
WASHINGTON-Do African immigrants make the smartest Americans? The question may sound outlandish, but if you were judging by statistics alone, you could find plenty of evidence to back it up.
In a side-by-side comparison of 2000 census data by sociologist John R. Logan at the Mumford Center, State University of New York at Albany, black immigrants from Africa average the highest educational attainment of any population group in the country, including whites and Asians.
For example, 43.8 percent of African immigrants had achieved a college degree, compared to 42.5 of Asian Americans, 28.9 percent for immigrants from Europe, Russia and Canada, and 23.1 percent of the U.S. population as a whole.
That defies the usual stereotypes of Asian Americans as the only “model minority.” Yet the traditional American narrative has rendered the high academic achievements of black immigrants from Africa and the Caribbean invisible, as if it were a taboo topic.
UPDATE: Please read the attached comment, which far outweighs this blogpost.
14 Comments
27 October 2007 at 6:01 pm
African Immigrants:
African-born blacks comprise 16 percent of the U.S. foreign-born black population and are considerably more educated than other black immigrants (U.S. Bureau of the Census, 2000). The vast majority comes from minority white countries in East and West Africa (e.g. Kenya and Nigeria), and less than 2 percent originate from North or South Africa (World Factbook 2004; Yearbook of immigration Statistics 2003).
In an analysis of Census Bureau data by the Journal of Blacks in higher education African immigrants to the United States were found more likely to be college educated than any other immigrant group. African immigrants to the U.S. are also more highly educated than any native-born ethnic group including white Americans (Logan & Deane, 2003; Dixon, 2006; Journal of Blacks in higher education, 1999-2000; Onwudiwe, 2006; Otiso and Smith, 2005; The Economist, 1996). Some 48.9 percent of all African immigrants hold a college diploma. This is slightly more than the percentage of Asian immigrants to the U.S., nearly double the rate of native-born white Americans, and nearly four times the rate of native-born African Americans (The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education, No. 26 (Winter, 1999-2000), pp. 60-61).
In 1997, 19.4 percent of all adult African immigrants in the United States held a graduate degree, compared to 8.1 percent of adult whites and 3.8 percent of adult blacks in the United States, respectively (The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education, No. 26 (Winter, 1999-2000), pp. 60-61). This information suggests that America has an equally large achievement gap between whites and African immigrants as there is between white and black Americans.
The Canadian sociological literature on immigrants also paints a similar picture, however, less stark. All visible-minority immigrant groups whether from the Caribbean or India do better academically than their native born (non-visible) cohorts, on average. Both foreign-born and Canadian-born blacks have graduation rates that exceed those of other Canadians. Similar patters of educational over-achievements are reached with years of schooling and with data from the 1994 Statistics Canada survey. (Guppy and Davies, 1998; Boyd, 2002).
In the UK, 1988, the Commission for Racial Equality conducted an investigation on the admissions practices of St. George’s, and other medical colleges, who set aside a certain number of places for minority students. This informal quota system reflected the percentage of minorities in the general population. However, minority students with Chinese, Indian, or black African heritage had higher academic qualifications for university admission than did whites (Blacks in Britain from the West Indies had far lower academic credentials than did whites). In fact, blacks with African origins over the age of 30 had the highest educational qualifications of any ethnic group in the British Isles. Thus, the evidence pointed to the fact that minority quotas for University admissions were actually working against students from these ethnic groups who were on average more qualified for higher education than their white peers (Cross, 1994; Also see, C, Dustmann, N, Theodoropoulos, 2006).
According to the report The State of Working Britain, published by the Centre for Economic Performance at the highly regarded London School of Economics, 21 % of adult blacks in Britain with African origins have a university degree. Only 14 percent of adult white Britons are college educated. It has also been shown that black immigrants from Africa earn more money than do native born white Britons (C, Dustmann, N, Theodoropoulos, 2006):
Of the African-born population in the United States age 25 and older 86.4% reported having a high school degree or higher, compared with 78. 9% of Asian born immigrants and 76.5% of European born immigrants, respectively. These figures contrast with 61.8% percent of the total foreign-born population. Immigrants groups in general tend to have higher high school graduation rates than the native-born general American population.
Those Africans born from Zimbabwe (96.7 percent), Botswana (95.5 percent), and Malawi (95 percent) were the most likely to report having a high school degree or higher. Those born in Cape Verde (44.8 percent), Mauritania (60.8 percent), and Somalia (63.3 percent) were the least likely to report having completed a high school education (Dixon, D., 2006)..
Of the European born those born in Bulgaria (92.6 percent), Switzerland (90.5 percent), and Ireland (90.4 percent) were the most likely to report having a high school degree or higher. Those born in Portugal (42.9 percent), Italy (53.7 percent), and Greece (59.9 percent) were the least likely to report having completed a high school education (Dixon, D., 2006).
Of the Asian born Mongolia (94.8 percent), Kuwait (94.7 percent), the United Arab Emirates (94.5 percent), and Qatar (94.3 percent) were most likely to report having a high school degree or higher. Those born in Laos (48.1 percent), Cambodia (48.4 percent), and Yemen (49.9 percent) were the least likely to report having completed a high school education (Dixon, D., 2006).. (Most people think the Asian group includes Orientals exclusively, this is not true)
Dodoo (1997) finds that while African immigrants are indeed the most educated of black groups in the U.S., he finds a negative return on African immigrants’ education attainment for diplomas obtained outside the United States. However, the same does not hold true for Caribbean immigrants. Although he finds that among blacks – native and immigrants – Africans earn the most, when earning-related endowments such as educational attainments are included in the analysis, this expected African advantage disappears (Dodoo, 1997).
The African born and Employment:
The African born are concentrated in management or professional and sales or office-related occupations. Of the employed population age 16 and older in the civilian labor force, the African born were much more likely than the foreign born in general to work in management and professional occupations as well as sales and office occupations. Additionally, the African born were less likely to work in service, production, transportation, material moving, construction, and maintenance occupations than the foreign born in general.
Ethiopians, Sudanese and Somalis, who mostly immigrate as refugees, do not do as well as their counterparts from English speaking African countries such as Nigeria, Egypt and Kenya. The reason was because most people from the three countries immigrate to the United States as refugees and asylum seekers, following crises in their home countries (Otiso and Smith, 2005).
Source Materials:
African Immigrants in the United States are the Nation’s Most Highly Educated Group. The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education, No. 26 (Winter, 1999-2000), pp. 60-61doi:10.2307/2999156
African-Born Blacks in the United Kingdom Are Far More Likely than Whites to Hold a College Degree. The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education, No. 34 (Winter, 2001-2002), pp. 29-31 doi:10.2307/3134095
African-Born U.S. Residents are the Most Highly Educated Group in American Society The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education, No. 13 (Autumn, 1996), pp. 33-34 doi:10.2307/2963153
Boyd, M. (2002). Educational Attainments of Immigrant Offspring: Success or Segmented Assimilation?
C, Dustmann, N, Theodoropoulos (2006): Ethnic Minority Immigrants and their Children in Britain. Centre for Research and Analysis of Migration, Department of Economics, University College London
Cross, T. (1994). Black Africans Now the Most Educated Group in British Society. The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education, No. 3 (spring, 1994), pp.92-93
Dixon, D. (2006). Characteristics of the European Born in the United States. Migration Policy Institute. February, 2005
Dixon, D. (2006). Characteristics of the African Born in the United States. Migration Policy Institute. January, 2006
Dixon, D. (2006). Characteristics of the Asian Born in the United States. Migration Policy Institute. April 2006
Dodoo, F. N-A (1997). Assimilation differences among Africans in America. Social Forces 76: 527-46
Gelatt, J. and Dixon, D. (2006). Detailed Characteristics of the Caribbean Born in the United States. Migration Policy Institute. July 2006.
Gelatt, J. and Dixon, D. (2006). Detailed Characteristics of the South American Born in the United States. Migration Policy Institute. May 2006.
Guppy, Neil and Scott Davies (1998). Education in Canada: Recent Trends and Future Challenges. Ottawa: Statistics Canada and the Minister of Industry.
Kefa M. Otiso and Bruce W. Smith, (2005). “Immigration and Economic Restructuring in Ohio’s Cities, 1940-2000”, Ohio Journal of Science, 105 (5): 133-137 December 2005
Logan, J.R, Deane, G (2003). “Black Diversity in Metropolitan America.” Lewis Mumford Center for Comparative Urban Regional Research University Albany
Onwudiwe, E. (2006). “Reflections on African Brain Gain Movement.”
The Economist (1996). 339 (7965): 27-28
In Educational Attainment, Black Immigrants to the United States Outperform Native-Born White and Black Americans. The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education © 2003 CH II Publishers
1 January 2008 at 10:10 am
This is a most interesting bit of information. For years, the public has been fed the stereotypical images of blacks being a particular drain ( more than any other group) on the American economy and by extension the social services.
People from the Caribbean, who, for the most part are blacks, have long followed in a tradition of excelling in academics as a means of social advancement. They tend also not to be as intimidated by the American system as, apparently, are many African-Americans. Yet it is ironic that the media continue to privilege the “hardworking” Asians over and above other groups. Once again we have evidence here of blacks needing to tell their own story.
3 March 2008 at 7:41 am
Eh… how are you comparing African international students with Asian Americans students? International students are always cream of the crop of their respective countries/areas. The statistic would mean something if you compared African international students with Asian international students…
31 March 2008 at 5:47 am
In an analysis of Census Bureau data by the Journal of Blacks in higher education, African immigrants to the United States were found more likely to be college educated than any other immigrant group, which included those from Europe, North America and Asia ( see U.S. Bureau of the Census, 2000). African immigrants have also been shown to be more highly educated than any native-born ethnic group including white and Asian Americans (see also, Logan & Deane, 2003; Williams, 2005; The Economist, 1996; Arthur, 2000; Selassie, 1998).
25 July 2008 at 12:58 pm
Hmm….Does “African” immigrants also include Egyptians? White South Africans? and other North Africans who are not “black”. And why do these AFrican immigrants if they are doing so well have affirmative action apply to them? As an Asian American, I think these stats are misleading and affirmative action for me, applying to colleges doesn’t apply to me.
So I’d like to find out about why affirmative action applies to black africans (I don’t think it applies to egyptians who are not black) and who is included under “african”.
3 August 2008 at 7:08 pm
African immigrants represent .2% of the U.S. population, yet make up 2/3 of the Black students at Harvard. Other prestigious colleges such as Penn, Cornell, and Stanford report the same exact findings that most of their Black students are first- or second- generation Americans, meaning that either their parents or grandparents immigrated from somewhere in Africa (most likely Nigeria, Ghana, or Ethiopia). The skewed ratio of the percentage of Africans in the American population (.2) to the percentage of African immigrants for each prestigious university (usually 6-8% of the student body) is what makes them a model minority. I go to Tufts University, and honestly most of the Black students I know are all 1st or 2nd generation Americans with parents or grandparents from Nigeria. Lots of them also have family members who have immigrated to London to try and make a better life also. I would say 7-8% of Tufts is made up of African immigrants, and the whole Black population (including native Black Americans) reaches 10%. In comparison to the census .2%, 8% is a lot of presence on the campus.
AA; The current debate about AA is that it is needed, but not fulfilling its intention of helping native Black Americans. Instead, it is given to 1st and 2nd generation African students who have been pushed to excel by their families, and thus have credentials comparable or exceeding the other students in the applicant pools anyway.
25 August 2008 at 10:48 am
Hmm….Does “African” immigrants also include Egyptians? White South Africans? and other North Africans who are not “black”. And why do these AFrican immigrants if they are doing so well have affirmative action apply to them? As an Asian American, I think these stats are misleading and affirmative action for me, applying to colleges doesn’t apply to me.
So I’d like to find out about why affirmative action applies to black africans (I don’t think it applies to egyptians who are not black) and who is included under “african”.
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Well said. It may be that African immigrants to the U.S. as a whole might be more educated than Asians – but there are a ton more Asians and take a particularly Asian group – like Indians and no African immigrant group comes close. And all African immigrants compiled together come close.
I was reading an even sillier comparison that Nigerian Americans, compared to larger ethnic groups (like Asians or whites) were the most educated group.
Nigerian Americans have a very low higher education rates compared to other national origin groups – take Indian Americans, or I’m sure Korean Amer, Chinese Americans.
It’d also be good to know who are the african immigrants – are Egyptians (white not nubian egyptians) have very high education performance and of course white africans in other parts of Africa.
And yes as an Asian, Affirmative action sucks – I know if I apply to an ivy league school and an black african immigrant applies to an ivy league school – I won’t be able to get in with the same low criteria as a black immigrant. Which is one thing that the “journal for blacks in higher ed” is saying – that the traditional affirmative action slots are going to many new african immigrants (who are of course the cream of the crop) – affirmative action doesn’t apply to asian americans.
Also what does this higher education says – african immigrants are a poor group – is it b/c they are not getting their education in a good place? Where are they getting their degrees from…those things are important to consider….and yes, Asians do not have affirmative action benefit them in school applications.
7 September 2008 at 10:32 am
I wanted to say that I married a Nubian from Egypt. Why is it so hard for people to believe that Blacks (Africans) can achieve a degree at a higher rate than Asian or Whites. If you didn’t know, Nubian means black. And Blacks are in North Africa. It’s just like people who want to include Egypt as part of the Middle East, when it’s actually in Africa. It’s only associated with the Middle East cause the primary language is Arabic. Yes America, Blacks aren’t as ignorant as you portray us to be. It’s just that in most African countries as well as the Caribbean, an education is the ultimate goal. They take it seriously, cause it’s the way out for them. So all of you people “hating” on us need to stop. You make me sick crying about affirmative action. Affirmative action is not just for us, it’s for the handicapped, obese, elderly and other ethnic groups as well. You cry cause you don’t know of the injustices we went through and still are going through today and it’s 2008. If it weren’t for my ancestors BLOOD, SWEAT and TEARS alot of the rights immigrants have today would not exists. If you don’t know of our contributions to America, then, I suggest you get active in BLACK HISTORY MONTH.
5 March 2009 at 5:31 pm
This one is for Dave. What the heck does this mean? “The vast majority comes from minority white countries in East and West Africa (e.g. Kenya and Nigeria)” You seems to be implying a benefit through association with whites. These are African countries not “minority white countries.”
This is typical of the traditional narrative in western media that has sought to devalue african achievements as if Africans cannot succeed without whites. The numbers speak for themselves.
21 March 2009 at 3:13 am
Why does everyone think that Affirmative Action benefits blacks? The reality is that the biggest beneficiary of Affirmative Action has been white women.
11 April 2009 at 12:02 pm
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12 April 2009 at 6:58 am
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12 April 2009 at 11:28 am
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23 August 2009 at 8:25 pm
it is so good to know that blacks are doing great.thanks sis for ur exposition.i realy do appreciate it.