Fact check: 65% of black women with university degrees work for the government

1. Summary of the results

The claim that "65% of black women with university degrees work for the government" is not supported by available data. Federal employment statistics show that African American women comprise only 11.7% of the civilian Federal workforce ^[1], which is significantly lower than the claimed 65%. None of the provided sources directly confirm this specific percentage claim about government employment.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several important contextual points are missing from the original statement:

• Educational Achievement Data: Black women represent 66% of bachelor's degrees and 71% of master's degrees awarded between 2018-2019 ^[2], showing significant educational attainment.
• Educational Challenges: However, Black women face more barriers in higher education, with lower enrollment and graduation rates from four-year colleges compared to white women, and only 5.4% of doctorates being awarded to Black students overall ^[3].
• Industry Diversity: Black women are employed across various sectors including healthcare, education, and hospitality ^[2], not just government positions.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The statement appears to be significantly misleading for several reasons:

• Statistical Misrepresentation: The claim of 65% dramatically overstates the actual representation of Black women in government positions, as federal workforce data shows much lower numbers ^[1].
• Oversimplification: The statement ignores the complex reality of Black women's employment across multiple sectors ^[4], potentially reinforcing stereotypes about government employment.
• Missing Industry Context: Recent workplace studies, such as the Women in the Workplace 2024 report, focus on corporate employment trends and representation across different industries ^[5], suggesting a much more diverse employment landscape than the original statement implies.

This type of misinformation could potentially be used to perpetuate stereotypes about government employment or minimize the achievements of Black women in other sectors of the economy.