Final answer:
The earnings gap between Black and White workers decreased in the 1970s but has since widened, with current disparities similar to those of 70 years ago. Contributing factors to this persistent gap include educational disparities and discrimination in job markets and other sectors.
Step-by-step explanation:
The evolution of the earnings gap between Black and White workers has seen significant changes over the past decades. Initially, the gap decreased in the 1970s but then widened again, making current differences as wide as they were approximately 70 years ago. Contributing factors to the persistent earnings gap include differences in education levels and the presence of discrimination. Despite achieving similar salaries upon college graduation, the racial wage gap widens over time for Black individuals.
Further evidence of discrimination is seen in studies where job applications with White-sounding names received 50 percent more callbacks than those with Black-sounding names. Additionally, there are links between discrimination in the housing market and employment outcomes. All these elements suggest that the earnings gap has not significantly diminished and discrimination plays a continuing role in maintaining it.