1. “History does not merely refer to the past… history is literally present in all we do.” -James Baldwin

2. In 1860 (five years before slavery abolished) 27.5 million US population 4,000,000 slaves (close to 15% of total US pop at time) (population of San Diego is a little over 3,000,000) Mississippi and S. Carolina both had about 100,000 more slaves than free people. 500,000 free black men and women in U.S. (mostly in the North) Economic value of property in slaves was more than the sum of all money invested in railroads, banks, and industry put together! 1 in 4 white southern families owned slaves (3 of 4 did NOT)

3. 41 million African Americans in 2008 (13% of total US population)

4. 65% of US population are white Euro-American 75% white including white Hispanic/Latino Approx 13% of US population is Black

5. Economic Equality? Fewer than one-percent of Fortune 500 companies are led by black CEOs.

6. Source: Center for American Progress

8. Political Equality? African-Americans hold 9.5% of the seats in the U.S. House of Representatives There are 0 African-Americans in the U.S. Senate (usually considered the more powerful house of Congress)

9. In 2008, 40.2% of all US prisoners were African-American In 2000, Whites were 83% of the 18+ population but only 60% of prisoner population, blacks were 12% of the population but 38% of prisoner population.

10. Is Equality a matter of life and death? Infant mortality (babies who die before one year of age) among African Americans in 2000 occurred at a rate of 14.1 deaths per 1,000 live births. This is more than twice the national average of 6.9 deaths per 1,000 live births.

11. 52% of people living with HIV/AIDS in the US are African-American

12. African American life expectancy at birth is persistently five to seven years lower than European AmericansAfrican American European Americans In the United States, African Americans have higher rates of mortality than does any other racial or ethnic group for 8 of the top 10 causes of death.

13. Questions: How do these numbers make you feel? What do they make you think? What do they make you wonder?