According to the Census Bureau’s 2006 American Community Survey, the most recent data available, the total African American population for North Carolina was 1.9 million. That’s just over 21 percent of the 8.9 million people living in the state.

We suspect this question may have something to do with the May 6 North Carolina Democratic primary between Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton in which, according to a Public Policy Polling survey of likely voters released April 28, Obama is leading Clinton 51 percent to 39 percent among all voters and 83 percent to 10 percent among African Americans.

As of April 28, the North Carolina State Board of Elections put the total number of registered voters in North Carolina at 5.8 million. African Americans make up 21 percent of those voters and 38 percent of all Democratic voters. (The vast majority – 84 percent – of African American voters are registered as Democrats.)

The number of blacks registering to vote for the first time has increased, probably as a result of Obama's campaign. Associated Press reporter Mike Baker reported that the state has seen a surge in registration among black voters in the first three months of this year, with 45,000 registering for the first time, more than four times the number of newly registered blacks in the same time period four years ago.

-D'Angelo Gore