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Don't Believe the Hype: Fighting Cultural Misinformation About African Americans
For those wishing to fight ignorance with intelligence and racism with facts, information from government sources and published studies point out discrepancies in assumed beliefs--such as that blacks are the main welfare recipients and drug users--and major fallacies. Original.
- GenresRaceFeminismNonfiction
267 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 1995
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
April 13, 2026
A LARGELY STATISTICAL SUMMATION OF THE SITUATION OF MODERN AFRICAN-AMERICANS
Farau Chideya (b. 1969) is an American journalist, radio and podcast host, and novelist; she also (as a ‘writer in residence’) teaches at the Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute of New York University.
She wrote in the Introduction to this 1995 book, “It would be nice to say that the media … treats African-Americans fairly across the board. But the fact of the matter is blacks are far from equitably represented in the stories, programs, and advertisements we see, hear, and read today… This book is designed to give readers a chance to question the depictions of race that have become standard in newspapers and on the nightly news, a map through the modern realities and misconceptions about race… I provide facts about the African-American community, facts which often run counter to prevailing descriptions…
“As a journalist, I spend much of my time keeping track of current articles and broadcasts. When coverage of an African-American issue struck me as biased, slanted, or incomplete, I often found I had surprisingly little idea where to go to find the facts behind what I saw as inaccuracies. I decided to write this book in part to fill the gaps in my own knowledge. Because of my profession, I’ve been privileged to have access to the books, publications, and experts that have allowed me to challenge the ‘facts’ about race in America…
“I also hope, perhaps naively, that this book will help blacks and whites understand each other a little better. White Americans are often turned off by what they see as the stridency of complaints of African-Americans, who say they’ve been wronged by negative portrayals. Blacks are often angry that… mainstream depictions of the black community are too often still taken as gospel… my sincere hope is that [this book] will help us think twice about making assumptions based on what we see and hear and read. When it comes to the media, questioning is the answer.”
She provides “A Statistical Overview of the African-American Community,’ reporting that: “In 1992, 38% of black women were married, dropping from 45% in 1980. For black men, the figures are 42% in 1992 and 49% in 1980… 47% of black families are married couples, 46% are female-headed, and 7% are male-headed. For whites, the corresponding figures are 82% married couple, 14% female-headed, and 4% male-headed. In 1992, 36% of black children lived with both parents, versus 77% of white children… The majority of black children are born to single mothers. In 1990, 67% of black children were born to unmarried women, versus 20% of white children.” (Pg. 16)
She reports, “Among Africa-Americans, marriage rates have declined sharply. In1980, 45% of black women were married; by 1992, that number had declined to 38%. Because black women outnumber black men, and because black men are more likely than black women to marry someone of another race, the corresponding figures for black men are 49% in 1980 and 42% in 1992. The percentage of divorced black men and women also rose over that time span… Many black women find it difficult to find a mate. Due largely to deaths from violence, there are only 85 black men for every 100 black women in the 25-44 age group.” (Pg 21)
She notes, “The population of families on AFDC covers all races. 39% of the families receiving welfare are black; 38% are non-Hispanic white; 17% are Hispanic, and 3% are Asian… In a strict racial breakdown, the majority of welfare recipients are white.” (Pg. 37) She states, “The majority of blacks (54%) live in the South, as opposed to only 32% of the whites.” (Pg. 48)
She says, “Black Americans have always been segregated in ways that even the most stigmatized white groups were not. For example, the most segregated white ethnic group in the country was Polish-Americans during the first half of this century. But blacks were, and are, more segregated than any white ethnic group.” (Pg. 56)
She points out, “Historically… the idea of race-based intelligence has been used as a way of shirking Americans’ commitment to equal opportunity… Head Start… has been a clear success, but the early gains in IQ and achievement are not sustained over time, after the children enter what are usually substandard urban schools. Perhaps this is not a reason for us to despair, merely a call for us as a society to try harder.” (Pg. 68)
She laments, “After years of gains, the percentage of African-Americans getting a college education is declining. The percentage of blacks aged 25 to 29 with at least some college rose until 1990, then fell from 13% to 11% between 1990 and 1992. The white numbers rose steadily, to a total of 23.6%.” (Pg. 81)
She explains, “One problem with affirmative action in college is that black students are often recruited, admitted, and then left to ‘sink or swim.’ Many black students do come from school systems and educational backgrounds that leave them less-prepared for college curricula, but that does not mean that they do not have the innate ability and will to succeed. Historically black colleges have been able to provide the counseling and sometimes remedial education that black students from underprivileged backgrounds need to get a strong start on advanced studies. Majority-white colleges will have to redouble their efforts to guide students through the university in order to see the same results.” (Pg. 84-85) Later, she adds, “African-Americans earned a smaller share of Ph.Ds in 1992 then they did 15 years ago---the only minority group for which this is true.” (Pg. 89)
She notes, “Black female college graduates earn slightly (less than 1%) MORE than their white counterparts. This may be because more African-American women are the sole earners for their families, and thus must put an extremely high priority on advancing their careers. It may also be because many employers feel that black women are diversity ‘two-fers’---African-Americans AND women---and may thus favor them over black men.” (Pg. 121)
She states, “it is extremely difficult for future black entrepreneurs to get the funding they need… African-Americans are less likely to get commercial loans than whites, and the ones who do get loans [are] on average 40% lower than for comparable white borrowers.” (Pg. 126)
She quotes an article from Essence magazine: “[African-Americans] tend as a people to invest in the trappings of success---clothes, expensive cars, electronic equipment, household gadgets, fine liquor---rather than the substance of success. This is due largely to a history of deprivation that has resulted in our needing to make a visible statement about economic success once we achieve it.” (Pg. 136)
She notes, “Black middle-class families are far more financially vulnerable than comparable white ones. The assets like homes and cars that African-Americans have are financed by more debt. Wealth in the black community is more dependent on high educational achievement than it is for white, since African-Americans earn less at every educational level, yet the percentage of blacks getting graduate and professional degrees has been declining. This trend means that the next generation of African-Americans may be even worse off in relation to whites.” (Pg. 136)
She reports, “Although black artists regularly hit the peaks of Top 40 charts today, the path of black pop music to mainstream acceptance has been difficult. Initially, the pop- and rock-music press ignored black artists. Between 1978 and 1982, Rolling Stone featured only one black musician, Donna Summer, on its cover… [MTV] also began by excluding blacks. In 1983, for example, only 16 of the 800 bands on the current video playlist were black.” (Pg. 146)
She recounts, “one-quarter of young black men are in prison, on parole, or on probation… The problem, after all, is not just the 25% but the 75%: the 75% of young black men who aren’t involved with the criminal justice system, but who are still viewed with suspicion by potential employers, store clerks, passers-by. The problem with the criminal justice system’s intense scrutiny of African-Americans and the incessant media coverage of black crime is that it ultimately has ramifications on the marriage, job prospects, and daily life of law-abiding black Americans.’ (Pg. 191)
Obviously, the statistics in this book (being more than 30 years old) are now out-of-date; but the basic trends that Ms. Chideya notes still seem to be accurate. (And she doesn’t seem to have written an update.)
Farau Chideya (b. 1969) is an American journalist, radio and podcast host, and novelist; she also (as a ‘writer in residence’) teaches at the Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute of New York University.
She wrote in the Introduction to this 1995 book, “It would be nice to say that the media … treats African-Americans fairly across the board. But the fact of the matter is blacks are far from equitably represented in the stories, programs, and advertisements we see, hear, and read today… This book is designed to give readers a chance to question the depictions of race that have become standard in newspapers and on the nightly news, a map through the modern realities and misconceptions about race… I provide facts about the African-American community, facts which often run counter to prevailing descriptions…
“As a journalist, I spend much of my time keeping track of current articles and broadcasts. When coverage of an African-American issue struck me as biased, slanted, or incomplete, I often found I had surprisingly little idea where to go to find the facts behind what I saw as inaccuracies. I decided to write this book in part to fill the gaps in my own knowledge. Because of my profession, I’ve been privileged to have access to the books, publications, and experts that have allowed me to challenge the ‘facts’ about race in America…
“I also hope, perhaps naively, that this book will help blacks and whites understand each other a little better. White Americans are often turned off by what they see as the stridency of complaints of African-Americans, who say they’ve been wronged by negative portrayals. Blacks are often angry that… mainstream depictions of the black community are too often still taken as gospel… my sincere hope is that [this book] will help us think twice about making assumptions based on what we see and hear and read. When it comes to the media, questioning is the answer.”
She provides “A Statistical Overview of the African-American Community,’ reporting that: “In 1992, 38% of black women were married, dropping from 45% in 1980. For black men, the figures are 42% in 1992 and 49% in 1980… 47% of black families are married couples, 46% are female-headed, and 7% are male-headed. For whites, the corresponding figures are 82% married couple, 14% female-headed, and 4% male-headed. In 1992, 36% of black children lived with both parents, versus 77% of white children… The majority of black children are born to single mothers. In 1990, 67% of black children were born to unmarried women, versus 20% of white children.” (Pg. 16)
She reports, “Among Africa-Americans, marriage rates have declined sharply. In1980, 45% of black women were married; by 1992, that number had declined to 38%. Because black women outnumber black men, and because black men are more likely than black women to marry someone of another race, the corresponding figures for black men are 49% in 1980 and 42% in 1992. The percentage of divorced black men and women also rose over that time span… Many black women find it difficult to find a mate. Due largely to deaths from violence, there are only 85 black men for every 100 black women in the 25-44 age group.” (Pg 21)
She notes, “The population of families on AFDC covers all races. 39% of the families receiving welfare are black; 38% are non-Hispanic white; 17% are Hispanic, and 3% are Asian… In a strict racial breakdown, the majority of welfare recipients are white.” (Pg. 37) She states, “The majority of blacks (54%) live in the South, as opposed to only 32% of the whites.” (Pg. 48)
She says, “Black Americans have always been segregated in ways that even the most stigmatized white groups were not. For example, the most segregated white ethnic group in the country was Polish-Americans during the first half of this century. But blacks were, and are, more segregated than any white ethnic group.” (Pg. 56)
She points out, “Historically… the idea of race-based intelligence has been used as a way of shirking Americans’ commitment to equal opportunity… Head Start… has been a clear success, but the early gains in IQ and achievement are not sustained over time, after the children enter what are usually substandard urban schools. Perhaps this is not a reason for us to despair, merely a call for us as a society to try harder.” (Pg. 68)
She laments, “After years of gains, the percentage of African-Americans getting a college education is declining. The percentage of blacks aged 25 to 29 with at least some college rose until 1990, then fell from 13% to 11% between 1990 and 1992. The white numbers rose steadily, to a total of 23.6%.” (Pg. 81)
She explains, “One problem with affirmative action in college is that black students are often recruited, admitted, and then left to ‘sink or swim.’ Many black students do come from school systems and educational backgrounds that leave them less-prepared for college curricula, but that does not mean that they do not have the innate ability and will to succeed. Historically black colleges have been able to provide the counseling and sometimes remedial education that black students from underprivileged backgrounds need to get a strong start on advanced studies. Majority-white colleges will have to redouble their efforts to guide students through the university in order to see the same results.” (Pg. 84-85) Later, she adds, “African-Americans earned a smaller share of Ph.Ds in 1992 then they did 15 years ago---the only minority group for which this is true.” (Pg. 89)
She notes, “Black female college graduates earn slightly (less than 1%) MORE than their white counterparts. This may be because more African-American women are the sole earners for their families, and thus must put an extremely high priority on advancing their careers. It may also be because many employers feel that black women are diversity ‘two-fers’---African-Americans AND women---and may thus favor them over black men.” (Pg. 121)
She states, “it is extremely difficult for future black entrepreneurs to get the funding they need… African-Americans are less likely to get commercial loans than whites, and the ones who do get loans [are] on average 40% lower than for comparable white borrowers.” (Pg. 126)
She quotes an article from Essence magazine: “[African-Americans] tend as a people to invest in the trappings of success---clothes, expensive cars, electronic equipment, household gadgets, fine liquor---rather than the substance of success. This is due largely to a history of deprivation that has resulted in our needing to make a visible statement about economic success once we achieve it.” (Pg. 136)
She notes, “Black middle-class families are far more financially vulnerable than comparable white ones. The assets like homes and cars that African-Americans have are financed by more debt. Wealth in the black community is more dependent on high educational achievement than it is for white, since African-Americans earn less at every educational level, yet the percentage of blacks getting graduate and professional degrees has been declining. This trend means that the next generation of African-Americans may be even worse off in relation to whites.” (Pg. 136)
She reports, “Although black artists regularly hit the peaks of Top 40 charts today, the path of black pop music to mainstream acceptance has been difficult. Initially, the pop- and rock-music press ignored black artists. Between 1978 and 1982, Rolling Stone featured only one black musician, Donna Summer, on its cover… [MTV] also began by excluding blacks. In 1983, for example, only 16 of the 800 bands on the current video playlist were black.” (Pg. 146)
She recounts, “one-quarter of young black men are in prison, on parole, or on probation… The problem, after all, is not just the 25% but the 75%: the 75% of young black men who aren’t involved with the criminal justice system, but who are still viewed with suspicion by potential employers, store clerks, passers-by. The problem with the criminal justice system’s intense scrutiny of African-Americans and the incessant media coverage of black crime is that it ultimately has ramifications on the marriage, job prospects, and daily life of law-abiding black Americans.’ (Pg. 191)
Obviously, the statistics in this book (being more than 30 years old) are now out-of-date; but the basic trends that Ms. Chideya notes still seem to be accurate. (And she doesn’t seem to have written an update.)
May 5, 2011
I remember meeting Farai Chideya in the late 90's and thinking that she was a nice person. Happily, I was able to attend a convocation address at the Eagleton Institute of Politics - the result, was the purchase of her book and later booking her to speak at the New Leadership New Jersey conference. The text remains true almost 15 years later which sadly, speaks volumes to us all.
June 13, 2007
A must read!
July 29, 2011
lots of factoids - good reference when you want some facts
November 19, 2021
Very interesting to go back to the early 90s and see how alot of this misinformation has been able to stand the test of time. Or become more advanced with time. The author offered a wealth of debunking to counter the cultural disinformation at the time. It's pretty amazing and horrifying to see how the more things changed the more they've remained the same. The view of the "Welfare Queen" remains in 2021. As does the so called drug war and prison industrial complex. It was also horrifying to know that Clinton's welfare reform bill was about to be presented for debate at the time this book was written and knowing that the bill ultimately was passed and caused severe damage! Ultimately this book was a great read in 2021 and should have raised great wareness in 1995.
May 13, 2015
Amazing book, like so much everyone should read it. It's not just about the many things I learned reading this book or confirmations of things I already thought. The way it's basically debunking all kinds of myths that your typical white person says is great; nips that in the bud, which is great. All the crap that gets said via media is always insane & then people think it's true which sometimes it isn't which makes it harder to believe what is real & what isn't. There is just so much misinformation that it's simply astounding at how nobody questions it. It's about time something happened to create awareness & hopefully understanding of what black people have gone through even if it's only in small doses.
February 5, 2020
I originally gave this book 4 stars but it has stuck with me for literally DECADES. I love it and would love an update! This landed in my hands via my older cousin who’d had it as the text in a college course in the late 90s. I devoured it and have kept it all these years.
February 8, 2010
Informative, but looses it's way in the statistics.
November 5, 2007
Interesting read about cultural misconceptions.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews