32 Table 10.17 reports the median family income (in dollars) in 1992 for white and black families The median for white families is $17.748 higher than the median for black fam- ilies. For each of the three types of families, however, the median for white families is about $8000 higher than the median for black familics Explain what could cause this discrepancy.

TABLE 10.17 Race Type of Family Black White Difference of Medians Married couple 34,196 42,738 8,542 Male householder 20,678 29.671 8.993 Female householder 11,956 20,130 8.174 Overall 21.161 38,909 17,748 Source. US Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Money Income of Households, Families, and Persons in the United States: 1992, Current Population Reports, P60-184