Echoing syndicated columnist Charles Krauthammer’s sentiments on ‘Special Report’ a few weeks back that Jim Crow is dead, I also believe that lowering the black unemployment rate (if it isn’t already) should be a top priority for civil rights leaders everywhere. Via CNS News and the Green Room:
The unemployment rate in the African American community climbed from 12.6 percent in July to 13.0 percent in August, according to data released today by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
At the same time, the number of African Americans 16 year [sic] or older who held jobs dropped from 16,318,000 in July to 16,108,000 in August--a decline of 210,000.
The labor force participation rate in the African American community dropped from 61.4 percent in July to 60.8 percent in August. The 60.8 percent African American labor force participation rate in August was the lowest that rate has been since July 1982.
When President Barack Obama took office in January 2009, the African American labor force participation rate was 63.3 percent.
The overall jobs report hardly seems encouraging, but African-American teenagers are doubtless suffering -- perhaps more than any other demographic. To that end, I eagerly await Sharpton et al's joint statement expressing their outrage and indignation over this disturbing trend.
Why do I have a feeling it’s not coming?