How significant was the economic progress of AfricanAmericans
in the U.S. between 1970 and 2000? In this paper we
examine this issue for black men 25-55 years old who live in 14 large
U.S. metropolitan areas. We present the evidence that significant racial
disparities remain in education and labor market outcomes of black
and white men. We discuss changes in industrial composition,
migration, and demographic changes that might have contributed to
the stagnation of economic progress of black men between 1970 and
2000. In addition, we show that there was no progress in a financial
well-being of black children, relative to white children, between 1970
and 2000.