New Report: Underrepresentation of People of Color in State Gov. Policy

Posted by on April 8, 2005

Report Finds People of Color Underrepresented in State Government Policy Positions
A new report published by the Center for Women in Government at SUNY Albany finds that disproportionately few people of color are appointed to top state government positions. The report, Democracy Unrealized: The Underrepresentation of People of Color as Appointed Policy Leaders in State Government, notes that while people of color make up 31.8% of the U.S. population, they hold only 16.2% of “top-ranking positions appointed by the nation’s governors.” African Americans have an “equitable share” of policy leadership in only 11 out of 29 surveyed states. Latinos, who constitute 13% of the U.S. population, hold only 4 percent of executive positions. Asian Americans achieved proportionate representation in only Hawaii and Washington State. The number of Latina women appointees rose from 12 to 28 between 1998 and 2004, while the number of African American women in such positions increased from 47 to 70 during the same time period.
Democracy Unrealized, Center for Women in Government & Civil Society
http://www.cwig.albany.edu/democracyunrealized.pdf
Press Release
http://www.albany.edu/news/releases/2005/mar2005/people_of_color.htm