by Dr. Boyce Watkins – Your Black World
When it comes to the November unemployment numbers issued by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there was a tale of two ethnicities. White Americans saw their unemployment rate decline in every demographic (women, men and teens), while African Americans saw their rate rise in every single category.
The overall national unemployment rate dropped from 9% to 8.6%, which has been hailed as a victory for the Obama Administration. But the differentials conceal a sharp and problematic racial undertone as it pertains to black unemployment. White men saw their unemployment rate decline the most, dropping from 7.9% to 7.3%, while black men endured a spike from 16.2% to an especially disturbing 16.5%.
White women were the beneficiaries of racial inequality as well. The white female unemployment rate dropped from 7% to 6.9% (the lowest rate of any racial/gender group), while black female unemployment rose from 12.6% to 12.9%.
The racial gap was also present among teenagers. White teen unemployment dropped from 21.8% to 21.3%, while black teen unemployment rose from 37.8% to 39.6%.
Across the board, white unemployment dropped from 8% to 7.6%, while black unemployment rose from 15.1% to 15.5%.
Part of the reason that I agreed to serve as the National Spokesperson for the Ujamaa Initiative to support black business is because of numbers like the ones I’ve mentioned in this article. Malcolm X reminded us long ago that if African Americans do not own their own businesses, we will always be subject to glaring disparities in unemployment rates, mainly because the jobs are being controlled and granted by the descendants of our historical oppressors.
Having a black president hasn’t done much to change our circumstances. In fact, we are worse off than we were before 2008. This is not to say that the Obama Administration is to blame, but it is entirely clear that they don’t have the power to solve such a serious and persistent problem.
New paradigms are in order to help us to obtain empowerment in a capitalist society. If we continue to attack the old issues in the same old ways, we will continue to get the same depressing results. What’s even more insulting is that after this recession is over, black unemployment will likely remain just as high as white unemployment is right now. In other words, we will be expected to celebrate the circumstances that white Americans now consider to be entirely unbearable.
It’s time for a change.
Dr. Boyce Watkins is a Finance Professor at Syracuse University and founder of the Your Black World Coalition. To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.
4 comments:
WHEN WILL WE WAKE UP? THIS PLANTATION MANTALITY OF '' I GOT MINES '' MUST END. IF THIS GAME PLAY THAT WE HAVE BEEN PLAYING FOR TOO DAMN LONG AND IS NOT WORKING THEN IT'S TIME TO SCRAP THIS CRAP AND RESTRUTURE QUICKLY AS A PEOPLE OTHERWISE IT WILL BE THE END FOR US.
Thank you Rick! And at what time did the Democrats or the NAACP back up your point of view? Never! Even when it came from the mouth of a black man, Herman Cain, but he was a republican and got shot down, blasted by accusations and still not back or defended by the NAACP!
Honestly, all B.S.to the side. Seems like most have acquired that get yours, cause I'm a get mine mentality.The only way to get a brother's or sister's attention these days is through the almighty dollar you know the phrase, "whats in it for me?" If anyone truley recognized the willie lynch letter they would do more than just the math. This guy said to audience of plantation owners that if they played the psychological game against the darker race they will control their slaves for no less than 300 years and for no more than 1000 years. Do the science and the math. We were enslaved for a period of 400 years. And slavery was abolished in 1865 and we been in somewhat freedom status mode for 146 years that is only 546 years. Is it fair to say we have another 454 years of hatred from my brothers and sisters? It does not surprise me these peckerwoods keep each other working, and we as a people look on and wonder how nice it would be. We must recognize we are the masters of our destiny.
Is it fair to observe that Black Wealth in America, like White Wealth everywhere does not invest in Black America". The real truth economically speaking is wealth is maintained and increased only by minimizing financial risks while maximizing financial return on investments. Show me where the maximum financial return and minimized financial risks exist in the black communities of America.
Wealthy Black Americans, stop playing the economics/financial game as if you were white! If you truly desire to change the landscape of unfairness in America (but then why would you, you currently benefit from it), you must participate and help create, then establish new rules regarding investing and building black community financial/economic infrastructures. White America will never do this because they realize if black americans were ever to become self sufficient (economically independent of handouts from White America) within their own community, they would no longer be dependent upon the minute distributions currently and continuously used to maintain the dependence of the majority of the American black population upon this system of unfairness and inequality.
I am not impressed by the continuing voices screaming for inclusion when there will never be the intent to fully remove barriers designed to keep the status quo. Do not expect this government to create a level playing field for anyone outside the wealthy and privileged. Think about it, even in socialist economies some are more equal receiving more benefit from the system than others where distribution is said to be fair to all.
Finally, today in America opportunity is greater than nearly anywhere else in the world, yet there is still the cry from those unable to secure their "fair share". Old school thought promises ultimate resolution can be achieved by forcing change. Well, the price of admission and the final performance indicate a far less than satisfactory result is likely.
Think on it America, same old song, same old dance. Will tomorrow be the same?
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