According to Eileen Patten, a white man earns an average of 21 dollars an hour, while an African American earns an average of 15 dollars an hour. While a white woman earns an average of 17 dollars an hour and African American women earn an average of 13 dollars an hour. Back in time only rich white men were the only ones who could work and go to school. Women stayed at home and took care of the children and made sure the housework was done. Since any race and woman is able to get the education they want, jobs have slowed down and opened up to anyone. There are laws against not hiring one because of gender or race which is called work