Recent studies on Black immigrants in the USA report higher than average
socioeconomic and educational attainment for African immigrants. Based on an intraAfrican
immigrant comparison, we examine the generalizability of this finding to
African groups of differing countries and regions using data from the 1990 and 2000
5 % U.S. census Integrated Public Use Microdata Samples (IPUMS). We specifically
ask whether hourly earnings of African immigrants vary by region of origin. Results of
our analyses reveal that sending region is an important determinant of variations in
hourly earnings among African immigrants. Also, data indicate that both race and
gender are significantly associated with earning outcomes; with the earnings of males
and whites significantly higher than those of females and blacks. We discuss these
findings in the context of the so-called “black immigrant success story.”