Black Unemployment

Washington — Even in the best of economic times, it is toxic to American fairness to shrug off any job disparities to favor the financial interest of wealthy people. But in down times like these, when the gulf between haves and have-nots has grown so wide and the impact on our minority communities is so […]

Well, it appears that some of the nation’s leading economists have proclaimed that the recession is over. Of course, these were the best and brightest who failed to warn us of the Great Recession in the first place, but I don’t want to sidetrack you with trivialities.

The African-American poverty rate rose to 25.8 percent in 2009. That the poverty rate would increase from 2008 to 2009 was not a surprise. Black workers lost jobs in 2009. When blacks lose work black poverty increases. Alternatively, when blacks find work poverty declines. The highest employment rate for African Americans on record was in […]

Dear Mr. President, I write this letter with all due respect to yourself, as well as the office of the presidency. Your historic rise up the political ladder has been nothing short of inspirational, and your extraordinary vision has positioned you as one of the most celebrated leaders in the history of the United States. […]

As the nation’s largest peacetime jobs program – the U.S. Census 2010 effort – winds down and its temporary workforce continues to join the ranks of the unemployed, a growth in private sector jobs was not enough to keep the unemployment rate from climbing slightly – one-tenth of a percentage point to 9.6 percent – […]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Companies showed a lack of confidence about hiring for a third straight month in July, making it likely the economy will grow more slowly the rest of the year. The unemployment rate was unchanged at 9.5 percent.

From CNN.com: A bill that restores unemployment benefits to 2.5 million jobless Americans passed the Senate and goes to the House on Thursday. It is expected to pass there are well.

FROM AOLNews.com: Middle-class black Americans dipped into their retirement accounts to stay afloat during the recession at a higher rate than their white counterparts did, broadening the “retirement gap” between whites and African-Americans, according to a new study.

From WSJ.com: The number of people filing for unemployment insurance fell last week, but weak industrial output and a drop in wholesale prices point to a slowing in the economic recovery.

Roland talks with Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood about the need for money to be allocated among states to supported disadvantaged and women-owned businesses. Roland stresses the importance of improving job prospects in fields like transportation and infrastructure, which are disproportionately saturated with African-American employees.