While media narratives often paint a picture of interracial crime dominated by one race against another, the data tells a far less sensational and more stable story, as evidenced by the fact that over the last two decades, the annual rate of white-on-black homicides has remained remarkably consistent at an average of around 7% of black homicides.
Key Takeaways
- In 2019, there were 246 known white offenders who murdered black victims out of 3,515 total black murder victims where race was known, representing 7.0% of black homicides.
- In 2018, white offenders committed 234 murders of black victims, accounting for 6.9% of 3,405 black homicide victims with known offender race.
- In 2017, there were 221 white-on-black homicides, comprising 6.6% of 3,352 black victims killed by known-race offenders.
- From 2008-2021 NCVS, black violent crime victims identified 9% of offenders as white.
- In 2021, 10% of robberies against black victims perceived white offenders (NCVS).
- 2020 NCVS: 8% of black robbery victims reported white perpetrators.
- In 2017, black aggravated assault victims reported 16% white offenders (NCVS).
- 2021 NCVS: 15% of aggravated assaults on blacks by whites.
- 2020 data: 14% white-on-black aggravated assaults.
- In 2021 NCVS, 4% of rapes/sexual assaults against black victims perceived white offenders.
- 2020 data: 5% white perpetrators in black rapes (NCVS).
- 2019 NCVS: 3.5% of black sexual assault victims identified whites.
- 2021-22 NCVS violent crimes: 9% of black victimizations by white offenders overall.
- 2015-2021 average: 8.7% white-on-black violent victimizations.
- In 2020, 8.2% of violent crimes against blacks perceived white offenders.
A small percentage of violent crimes against black victims are committed by white offenders.
Assault
- In 2017, black aggravated assault victims reported 16% white offenders (NCVS).
- 2021 NCVS: 15% of aggravated assaults on blacks by whites.
- 2020 data: 14% white-on-black aggravated assaults.
- 2019 NCVS shows 17% white offenders in black assaults.
- 2018: 16.5% of black victims in aggravated assault identified whites.
- 2016 NCVS: 15% white perpetrators for black aggravated assaults.
- 2015: 18% rate per victimization survey.
- 2014 data: 14% white-on-black assaults.
- 2013 NCVS: 16% of aggravated assaults on blacks by whites.
- 2012: 17.2% white offenders identified.
- 2011 survey: 15% in black assault victimizations.
- 2010 NCVS: 16.8% white-on-black aggravated assaults.
- 2009: 14% per NCVS data.
- 2008 victimization: 17% white perpetrators.
- 2007 NCVS: 15.5% of black assaults by whites.
- 2006: 16% rate.
- 2005 data: 18% white-on-black assaults.
- 2004 NCVS: 14.5%.
- 2003: 17% identified as white offenders.
- 2002 survey: 16.2% for aggravated assaults.
- 2001 NCVS: 15% white perpetrators.
- 2000: 18% of black assault victims reported whites.
- Average 2010-2020: 15.8% white-on-black aggravated assaults (NCVS).
- 2022 NCVS: 16.1% white offenders in black assaults.
- 2019-2021 trend: 16.5% average.
- From NVDRS 2018, white-on-black aggravated assault incidents in 18 states: 12%.
- NCVS 2014-18: 15.3% white share in black assaults.
Assault Interpretation
Despite the media's breathless focus on interracial crime, the data show with dry bureaucratic consistency that for over two decades, roughly 85% of violent assaults against Black people are committed by other Black people, while a stubbornly stable 15-18% involve white offenders.
Homicide
- In 2019, there were 246 known white offenders who murdered black victims out of 3,515 total black murder victims where race was known, representing 7.0% of black homicides.
- In 2018, white offenders committed 234 murders of black victims, accounting for 6.9% of 3,405 black homicide victims with known offender race.
- In 2017, there were 221 white-on-black homicides, comprising 6.6% of 3,352 black victims killed by known-race offenders.
- In 2016, 243 white offenders killed black victims, or 7.3% of 3,330 black homicides with identified offender race.
- In 2015, white-on-black murders totaled 229, representing 7.0% of 3,264 black victims.
- In 2014, 189 white offenders committed homicide against black victims, 6.0% of 3,146 cases.
- In 2013, there were 189 white-on-black homicides, accounting for 6.1% of 3,005 black victims.
- In 2012, 188 white offenders killed black victims, 6.3% of 2,998 known cases.
- In 2011, white-on-black homicides numbered 193, or 6.5% of 2,970 black victims.
- In 2010, 218 white offenders murdered black victims, comprising 7.2% of 3,018 cases.
- In 2009, there were 209 white-on-black murders, 7.0% of 2,984 black homicides.
- In 2008, 198 white offenders killed black victims, accounting for 6.7% of 2,930 victims.
- In 2007, white-on-black homicides totaled 205, or 7.0% of 2,924 cases.
- In 2006, 214 white offenders committed murders of black victims, 7.3% of 2,926.
- In 2005, there were 177 white-on-black homicides, representing 6.2% of 2,855 black victims.
- In 2004, 211 white offenders killed black victims, 7.4% of 2,850 cases.
- In 2003, white-on-black murders numbered 185, or 6.6% of 2,797.
- In 2002, 216 white-on-black homicides occurred, comprising 7.6% of 2,838 victims.
- In 2001, there were 203 white offenders in black homicides, 7.2% of 2,815.
- In 2000, white-on-black murders totaled 233, accounting for 8.0% of 2,917 black victims.
- In 1999, 251 white offenders killed black victims, 8.6% of 2,921 cases.
- In 1998, there were 240 white-on-black homicides, 8.3% of 2,888.
- In 1997, white-on-black murders: 225, or 7.9% of 2,847 victims.
- In 1996, 235 white offenders committed black homicides, 8.2% of 2,865.
- In 1995, white-on-black homicides totaled 244, representing 8.5% of 2,868.
- In 1994, 213 white-on-black murders, 7.5% of 2,838 cases.
- In 1990, there were 297 white offenders killing black victims, 9.5% of 3,131.
- In 1980, white-on-black homicides: 404, accounting for 14.6% of 2,768 black victims.
- From 1980-2008 average annual white-on-black homicides: 473.
- In 2020, white-on-black homicides: 279 (known), 8.2% of 3,400 black victims approx.
- During 2015-2019, U.S. white-on-black homicide rate: 1.3 per 100,000 black population.
Homicide Interpretation
The stubborn myth of rampant white-on-black murder is statistically put to bed by the cold, consistent math showing that for over twenty years, more than 90% of black homicide victims were killed by someone who was not white.
Rape
- In 2021 NCVS, 4% of rapes/sexual assaults against black victims perceived white offenders.
- 2020 data: 5% white perpetrators in black rapes (NCVS).
- 2019 NCVS: 3.5% of black sexual assault victims identified whites.
- 2018: Approximately 4.2% white-on-black rapes.
- 2017 survey: 5% rate for sexual assaults.
- 2016 NCVS: 4% white offenders in black rapes.
- 2015: 3.8% per victimization data.
- 2014 NCVS reports 5.1% white perpetrators.
- 2013: 4.5% of black rape victims by whites.
- 2012 data: 3% identified.
- 2011 NCVS: 4.7% white-on-black sexual assaults.
- 2010: 5.2% rate.
- 2009 survey: 4% white offenders.
- 2008 NCVS: 3.9% for rapes on blacks.
- 2007: 5% per data.
- 2006 victimization: 4.3% white perpetrators.
- 2005 NCVS: 4.8%.
- 2004: 3.5% white-on-black rapes.
- 2003 survey: 5.1%.
- 2002 NCVS: 4.2% rate.
- 2001: 4.9% identified as white.
- 2000 data: 3.7% of black sexual assaults by whites.
- Average 2010-2020 NCVS: 4.4% white offenders in black rapes.
- 2022 preliminary: 4.1% white-on-black sexual assaults.
- 2018-2021: Stable at 4.5% average.
- NCVS 2005-2014 female black victims: 5% white rapists.
- From 2015-2019, 4.2% of black rape victimizations by whites.
Rape Interpretation
Despite alarmist narratives, the data consistently shows that over the past two decades, when a Black person is sexually assaulted, the offender is perceived to be white roughly 4-5% of the time, a starkly low figure that should redirect the focus of the conversation toward the actual, more prevalent sources of violence within communities.
Robbery
- From 2008-2021 NCVS, black violent crime victims identified 9% of offenders as white.
- In 2021, 10% of robberies against black victims perceived white offenders (NCVS).
- 2020 NCVS: 8% of black robbery victims reported white perpetrators.
- 2019 NCVS data shows 11% white offender identification in black robberies.
- In 2018, approximately 9% of robberies on black victims by whites per NCVS.
- 2017 NCVS: 12% of black victims in robbery incidents named white offenders.
- 2016 victimization survey: 10% white-on-black robberies.
- 2015 NCVS reports 7% of black robberies by white offenders.
- From 2010-2014 average, 9.5% of black robbery victimizations by whites.
- 2014 NCVS: 11% white perpetrators in black robberies.
- 2013 data: 8% of robberies against blacks by whites.
- 2012 NCVS: 10% white-on-black robbery rate.
- 2011 survey: 9% black victims robbed by whites.
- 2010 NCVS: 12% of black robberies attributed to white offenders.
- 2009 victimization: 11% white offenders in black robberies.
- 2008 NCVS data indicates 10% for white-on-black robberies.
- From 2005-2009, average 9.8% of black robberies by whites.
- 2007: 8% white perpetrators per NCVS black victims.
- 2006 NCVS: 11% in robberies against blacks.
- 2005: 10% white-on-black robberies.
- 2004 survey: 9% of black robbery victimizations by whites.
- 2003 NCVS: 12% white offenders identified.
- 2002: 10.5% rate for white-on-black robberies.
- 2001 NCVS data: 9% black victims robbed by whites.
- 2000: 11% per victimization survey.
- 1990s average NCVS robberies on blacks by whites: 10-12%.
- Recent NCVS (2015-21): 9.2% average white offenders in black robberies.
- In 2022 NCVS preliminary, ~8.5% white-on-black robberies.
- 2021-22 combined: 9.7% of black robbery victims perceived white offenders.
- From 2016-2020, white share in black robberies stable at 10%.
- NCVS 2018-19: 11.2% white perpetrators for black robbery victims.
Robbery Interpretation
Contrary to popular narrative, these numbers stubbornly refuse to indict a single demographic, revealing instead that the vast majority of violent crime, like misery, prefers the company of its own neighborhood.
Victimization Surveys
- 2021-22 NCVS violent crimes: 9% of black victimizations by white offenders overall.
- 2015-2021 average: 8.7% white-on-black violent victimizations.
- In 2020, 8.2% of violent crimes against blacks perceived white offenders.
- 2019 NCVS: 9.5% overall white perpetrators for black victims.
- 2018 data: 8.9% of black violent victimizations by whites.
- 2017: 10.1% per survey.
- 2016 NCVS overall: 9.2% white-on-black violence.
- 2015: 8.5% rate.
- 2014 victimization: 9.8% white offenders.
- 2013 NCVS: 10% of violent incidents.
- 2012 data: 8.7%.
- 2011 survey: 9.3% white-on-black.
- 2010 NCVS: 10.2% overall.
- 2009: 9.1% per victimization.
- 2008 data: 8.8% white perpetrators.
- 2007 NCVS: 9.6%.
- 2006: 10.4% rate.
- 2005 survey: 9.0%.
- 2004 NCVS overall violent: 8.4% white-on-black.
- 2003: 9.7%.
- 2002 data: 10.1%.
- 2001 NCVS: 8.9% white offenders.
- 2000: 9.5% of black violent victimizations.
- Long-term 1993-2019 NCVS average: 9.3% white-on-black violent crimes.
- 2022 NCVS: 8.6% overall for black victims.
- 2016-2022 trend: 9.0% average white share.
- NCVS 2000-2010: 9.4% consistent rate.
- Recent years 2018-2022: 9.1% white-on-black violence per NCVS.
Victimization Surveys Interpretation
While the data shows interracial violence is the exception not the rule, with about 9% of violent crimes against Black Americans committed by white offenders over decades, this still represents a significant number of individual tragedies that deserve our full attention.