During the previous years of Democratic gubernatorial administrations in Jefferson City, the state of Missouri was among the nation’s best at hiring blacks for key positions.
Nationally, while blacks and Hispanics have no trouble getting tapped to lead civil rights commissions, the same can’t be said when it comes to other top-ranking state government jobs nationwide, a new study shows.
Titled “Democracy Unrealized,” the study notes the 2000 U.S. Census showed minorities made up 32 percent of the nation’s population, but just 16 percent held key appointed policy positions in state governments in 2004.
Blacks held an equitable share of leadership jobs in 11 of 29 states surveyed. Those states include: Indiana, Massachusetts, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and Wisconsin.