THE CAPITAL: Negro Majority

First major U.S. city to count more Negroes than whites in its population: Washington, D.C.* Latest estimate by the city's health department: 438,000 Negroes (53%) and 387,000 whites (47%), a shift from 187,000 Negroes (28%) and 474,000 whites (72%) in 1940. Since today's Negro school-age population outnumbers whites 2 to 1, while whites concentrate in the middle and upper age brackets, the Negro majority will rise even higher in the next ten years.

* Other cities with high percentages of Negroes: Jackson, Miss., 40%; Gary, Ind., 39.6%; Savannah, Ga., 39.1%.

...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!