AP/ February 11, 2009, 4:25 PM

Feds: 49% Of Murder Victims Are Black Men

Nearly half of the nation's murder victims in 2005 were black, and the number of black men who were slain is on the rise.

A majority of the black murder victims were relatively young — between 17 and 29, the Justice Department said in a study released Thursday.

The department's Bureau of Justice Statistics report offers a snapshot of racial disparities among violent crime victims. Black people represented an estimated 13 percent of the U.S. population in 2005, the latest data available, but were the victims of 49 percent of all murders and 15 percent of rapes, assaults and other nonfatal violent crimes nationwide.

Most of the black murder victims — 93 percent — were killed by other black people, the study found. About 85 percent of white victims were slain by other white people.

National Urban League President Marc Morial, a former mayor of New Orleans, said the data reflect a trend that cannot be reversed by law enforcement alone. It will require changes in public education and a revival of federal summer jobs programs for economically disadvantaged young people, he said.

"The mixture of illegal drugs, easy access to handguns and young men who feel locked out of economic opportunity is what these statistics reflect," Morial said.

An estimated 16,400 people were murdered in the United States in 2005, down from a peak of 21,400 a decade ago. Similarly, the number of black people slain dropped over the last 10 years, from 10,400 in 1995 to almost 8,000 in 2005.

But the murder rate among black men rose slightly between 2004 and 2005, continuing several years of dips and increases.

Two years ago, 6,783 black men were murdered, up from 6,342 in 2004, the study shows. The murder rate among white men also rose, but less dramatically: 5,850 were slain in 2005, compared with 5,769 the year before.

Murders of women, white and black, remained relatively unchanged between the two years.

Additionally, more than half of black murder victims — 51 percent — were in their late teens and twenties. Comparatively, just over a third — 37 percent — of white people murdered were between 17 and 29, the study shows.

The study did not take a detailed look at violent crime victims who are Hispanic or Latino, or other races. However, it concluded that violent crime victims were more often black than any other race except American Indians.

Among the study's other findings:

  • Never-married black people were more likely than all other blacks to be victims of violence.

  • Poorer black people were at a greater risk of violence than households with higher annual incomes.

  • Black people living in cities were more likely to be violent crime victims than people living in suburban or rural areas.
  • © 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
    42 Comments Add a Comment
    linkicon reporticon emailicon
    steve809 says:
    You can blame the failure of corrupt poverty pimping, race hustling black leaders including Obama and those that preceded him, racists like Al Sharpton or Jesse Jackson for much of the problems in the inner city black communities & the Democratic party who have ruled these inner cities for over 50 years. A litany of failure everywhere = Obama policies. Just look what a great job Obama did in Chicago. He could have shown his idiot followers his success at solving the problems of just his hometown of Chicago before foisting the fraud that is Obama on the entire country!
    reply
    linkicon reporticon emailicon
    my2centss says:
    Sadly, this trend will only get worse. If you look at this country. In areas where there is little unemployment, the crime rates are low, for all races. As we continue to outsource, raise tuition for college, and replace blue collar jobs with illegals, the hope for everyone will start looking bleak. Then it will not only be limited to the black community, that is only where it starts, not ends.
    reply
    linkicon reporticon emailicon
    yamuttya says:
    EVERY black person and putting them into the "Bad Person/Non-Human" bag.
    Mrs LOVE

    Crazy blacks get off on drugs
    Yamuttya

    Dont say I include all blacks because I dont.
    There are lots of great people who are black.
    Unfortunately, O.J. is very typical.
    The CRAZY BLACKS.
    Give him all the money, fame and respect in the world and what do you get?
    A low life coward psycho murderer.
    ( Michael Vick and hundreds of others , ditto )

    Black America has two choices.....
    1/ continue to hide it's head in the sand in denial and excuses we've all heard a million times , or....
    2/ Take responsibility.
    Grow up.
    Get your act together.

    Choose one.
    reply
    linkicon reporticon emailicon
    mrs_love says:
    It is ashamed that most of you are taking EVERY black person and putting them into the "Bad Person/Non-Human" bag. What happened to being judged individually. Oops I forgot, that notion never had a chance. It is unfortunate that CBS did not (and most likely will never) give the stats on Black America achieving in this country. Yes folks, Black Americans are doing other things beside being outlaws. Look at your neighbors, your insurance brokers, your lawyers, doctors and store clerks. But don't tell me. They are animals too because they don't look like you.
    reply
    linkicon reporticon emailicon
    yamuttya says:
    Many excel at throwing stones and criticizing but their brains completely shut down when you ask them to offer a solution! When they attempt to offer a solution its usually something racist or sarcastic! Where I come from we have a rule, you're not allowed to trash anything unless you can offer something better in its place, not a bad rule to follow!
    Posted by tbweb at 09:09 AM : Aug

    I agree,
    here it is :
    go to school,
    get a job,
    pay your taxes,
    support your community,
    be a good citizen.
    Period.

    Any questions ??
    reply
    linkicon reporticon emailicon
    gunownerdan says:
    Legalize and regulate marijuana(America's #1 cash crop) and watch violent crime go way down.
    Drug gangs and drug dealers would need to find another way to make billions of dollars!
    www.leap.cc
    www.mpp.org
    reply
    linkicon reporticon emailicon
    tbweb says:
    Many excel at throwing stones and criticizing but their brains completely shut down when you ask them to offer a solution! When they attempt to offer a solution its usually something racist or sarcastic! Where I come from we have a rule, you're not allowed to trash anything unless you can offer something better in its place, not a bad rule to follow!
    reply
    linkicon reporticon emailicon
    luigi999-2009 says:
    Gee, what a surprise. And blacks want respect? Give me a break.
    reply
    linkicon reporticon emailicon
    yamuttya says:
    Bottom line...
    everybody gets off on making money, being successful and enjoying life.
    Except,
    Crazy blacks get off on drugs, killing and stupidity ( Michael Vick = Michael Dick )
    So,
    WHAT ELSE IS NEW ???????

    Sorry, this is not racist,
    THIS IS REALITY,

    Deal with it.....
    reply
    linkicon reporticon emailicon
    yamuttya says:
    Oh yeah,
    and the weather's nice today......duuuhhhh
    reply
    See all 42 Comments