Is African-American, Hispanic poverty at all-time low?

Is African-American, Hispanic poverty at all-time low?

Is African-American, Hispanic poverty at all-time low?

In 2017, African-American poverty was 21.2 percent, which was below the previous record low of 21.8 percent the previous year, 2016. (Prior to 2002, data is available only for "black" Americans. After that year, data is available for "black alone" and "black alone or in combination." We used the data for "black alone or in combination" for the period in which it is available.)

Meanwhile, for Hispanics, the 2017 poverty rate was 18.3 percent, which edged out the previous record low of 19.4 percent in 2016.

African-American poverty peaked at 41.8 percent in 1966. Hispanic poverty peaked at 30.7 percent in 1994.

While Trump didn’t directly take credit for the decline in his Wheeling remarks, it’s worth noting that the poverty rate had fallen for several years running under his predecessor, President Barack Obama. So the pattern stems from the generally improving economy under both presidents.

#trump

Our Ruling

Trump said, "The poverty rates for African Americans and Hispanic Americans -- it’s been incredible, they’ve all reached their lowest levels in the history of our country."

He’s right that poverty rates hit their historical lows in 2017 since the statistic was first calculated consistently in 1966. We rate the statement True. https://www.politifact.com/west-virginia/statements/2018/oct/23/donald-trump/african-american-hispanic-poverty-all-time-low/