news
THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE
December 2-8, 2009 Page A-3
Prime Politics
All The Politics That Matter to You
Marc Morial Barack Obama Ben Jealous
Black joblessness: Showdown between
Black leaders and Black president
By Hazel Trice Edney
Policy Institute. “Joblessness on this scale creates enormous “A rising tide lifts all boats for those that are in the boats,”
NNPA Editor-in-Chief
social and economic problems — and denies millions of families Morial said. He says reported unemployment percentages only
the ability to meet even their most basic needs. It also threatens reflect those that are still looking for work, not those who have
WASHINGTON (NNPA) — African-American joblessness — our nation’s future prosperity by casting millions more children all but given up after repeated rejections.
nearly twice the national rate — is quickly becoming the first into poverty, foreclosing educational opportunities for many,
showdown between Black leaders and the nation’s first Black limiting the investment and innovation that will fuel future
“The real overall unemployment rate is something like 17
president as national Black and civil right leaders raise their growth, and dimming long-term labor market prospects, espe-
percent. And it’s higher than that in the Black community,” he
voices telling the Obama administration it’s time to end the jobs cially for younger workers.”
said.
crisis in the Black community.
The joint statement credits the Obama administration for pri-
Morial’s letter is addressed to Lawrence Summers, director
“We’re sending a strong message to the president and Con- oritizing the economy as its first major action, pushing through
of Obama’s National Economic Council, Senate Majority Leader
gress that we need to step up. We need immediate jobs – not a $787 billion stimulus package approved by Congress and
Harry Reid, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and Congres-
sometime six, eight and 10 months down the road,” National already creating more than a million jobs. But the groups are
sional Black Caucus Chair Barbara Lee.
Urban League President Marc Morial said in an interview with pushing for greater action.
The following is a synopsis of his recommendations:
the NNPA News Service. “African-American leaders are not just
Despite the issue of health care, still very much on the front- • Fund Direct Job Creation by offering financial support to
saying do something. We’re offering solutions.”
burner as it is slated for Senate debate this week, the jobless cities, counties, states, universities, community colleges and
Morial has sent a letter to the Obama administration and crisis is demanding equal attention as it boils to the top. House
non-profit community based organizations to hire the person-
congressional leaders outlining specific recommendations for leaders hope to vote on a jobs bill by mid December while Senate
nel necessary to provide critical services in communities across
job creation as President Obama prepares for a job summit this leaders have indicated they would take up a jobs bill after the
the nation.
week in the wake of national unemployment numbers that grew health care debate.
• Expand and Expedite the Small Business Administration’s
into double digits — 10. 2 percent — in October. In his letter,
“Make no mistake, this is the civil rights issue of the Community Express Loan Program through a reduction of the
dated Nov. 24, Morial reminds the administration that the Black
moment,’’ said LCCR president and CEO Wade Henderson, in interest rate to 1 percent targeted for those businesses located
community has suffered double digit jobless rates for well more
a statement posted on the organization’s website, Civilrights. in areas where the local unemployment rate exceeds the state
than a year.
org. “Unless we resolve our national job crisis, all of our other average.
“While I applaud the administration for publicly acknowledg- priorities — from reforming health care and fixing our broken
• Create Green Empowerment Zones in areas where at least 50
ing the gravity of our nation’s employment situation, I would immigration system, to stemming home foreclosures and ex-
percent of the population has an unemployment rate that is
add that double-digit unemployment has been a reality for com- panding economic opportunity for all Americans — are in real
higher than the state average.
munities of color since last summer — for African Americans jeopardy.’’
since August, 2008, and for Latinos since February, 2009,” he
• Expand the Hiring of Housing Counselors Nationwide by in-
The joint statement, also signed by the AFL-CIO, the National
writes. “As president and CEO of the National Urban League, the
vesting $500 million to fund housing counseling agencies na-
Council of La Raza, the Center for Community Change, and the
nation’s oldest and largest community-based movement devot-
tionwide to help delinquent borrowers work with their loan ser-
Economic Policy Institute, indicates that the crisis-level con-
ed to empowering African Americans to enter the economic and
vicers to secure more affordable mortgages.
cern is escalating as the numbers grow out of control, and with
social mainstream, I have firsthand knowledge of the tremen-
racial disparity.
• Expand the Youth Summer Jobs Program for 2010 by invest-
dous obstacles these families have been facing, not just since
ing $5-7 billion to employ 5 million teens. The unemployment
national unemployment reached 10.2 percent in October, but
“Nearly 16 million Americans who are able and willing to
rate for African American youth is over 40 percent.
for over a year now.”
work cannot find a job. More than one out of every three unem-
ployed workers has been out of a job for six months or more.
• Create 100 Urban Jobs Academies to Implement an Expansion
Morial’s strongly worded letter came on the heels of a Nov. 17
The situation facing African American and Latino workers is
of the Urban Youth Empowerment Program (UYEP) to employ
statement issued by leading African American civil right groups,
even bleaker, with unemployment at 15.7 percent and 13.1per-
and train the chronically unemployed.
the NAACP, headed by Ben Jealous, the Leadership Conference
cent, respectively,” said the statement, titled, “An Urgent Call to
on Civil Rights, headed by Wade Henderson, and other major
“At a time of the year when we traditionally give thanks and
Action to Stem the U. S. Job Crisis.”
civil rights organizations.
prepare to share generously with those around us, the American
At a White House press conference last spring, President
people are both frustrated and disappointed,” Morial concludes.
“Despite an effective and bold recovery package we are still
Obama fielded a question about rising Black unemployment by
“Despite the ambivalence of most Americans with regard to
facing a prolonged period of high unemployment.
saying, “A rising tide lifts all boats,” meaning as he addresses
spending billions of dollars to bail out the very businesses they
Two years from now, absent further action, we are likely to unemployment overall, Black unemployment will also be ad-
felt had previously taken advantage of them, they understood
have unemployment at 8 percent or more, a higher rate than dressed.
the need to take swift and deliberate action to avoid a major
that attained even at the worst point of the last two downturns,”
national, or even global, financial crisis. We ask that the same
But economists and civil rights leaders say general economic
said the joint statement, which was issued in conjunction with
urgency be given to the people experiencing a personal financial
remedies will not be enough to rescue unemployed people who
a forum sponsored by the Washington, D.C.-based Economic
crisis in cities throughout this country.”
have nearly sunk to the bottom in their struggle to find work.
Black unemployment up
From acting
to nearly 35 percent
to activism
Tyler Perry gives NAACP $1 million
By Frederick Cosby
do, but urging him to move forward on an and that Black workers are traditionally
WASHINGTON (NNPA)
SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
issue we have agreement on.” the last ones hired and first ones fired.
— The NAACPhas announced
“Make no mistake, for us this is the
that acclaimed film director
The nation’s economic crisis has
Herman Brewer, acting CEO of Chica-
civil rights issue of the moment,” Wade
Tyler Perry has donated $1
been tough for millions of Americans,
go’s Urban League, told NPR this week
Henderson, president of the Leadership
million, marking the largest
but times have been especially tough for
that a lot of people have lost jobs, but
Conference, told The Times. “Unless
gift ever given by an individual
young black men.
it’s especially difficult for Black men
we resolve the national job crisis, it will
artist. In addition, Perry pur-
“because many have had to overcome so
Black men between 16 and 24 years make it hard to address all of our other
chased several NAACP com-
old are struggling with a staggering 34.5 priorities.”
much just to get where they were in a par-
missioned Jacob Lawrence
percent unemployment rate, according
ticular job.”
lithographs and additional
Obama has announced that the White
to federal figures released last month, a
lithographs by celebrated art-
House will hold a jobs summit next
Some analysts say there are new
Great Depression era-type statistic that’s
ists Jonathan Green, Eliza-
month.
wrinkles in employment patterns that
three times higher than the general U.S.
are adversely impacting Blacks trying to
beth Catlett and Sam Gilliam.
population.
Recent presidents, including George
land jobs. Some companies that empha-
The gift was made to com-
H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and George W.
Young Black women between 16 and
memorate the organization’s
Bush, have traditionally shied away from
sized diversity in hiring practices in good
24 years of suffer a 26.5 percent jobless
centennial anniversary, ac-
implementing Black or minority-specific
economic times have quietly shied away
rate, while the unemployment rate for all
cording to a release.
job programs, saying that all races and
from the policy during the recession. And Tyler Perry

women in that age range is 15.4 percent.
ethnic groups are uplifted when the over-
older, more experienced White workers “Tyler Perry exemplifies
The combined jobless rate for young
all economy is good.
who’ve been downsized from corporate an unyielding commitment to
Perry expressed that it was the
Black men and women is 30.5 percent.
payrolls are now finding themselves com-
uplifting and bringing hope to
least he could do.
That rationale doesn’t wash with Boyce
Black unemployment has consistently
the disenfranchised and those “I feel so honored and
Watkins, a Syracuse University finance
peting for the same low-to-medium-wage
lagged behind the general population,
less fortunate,” said Benja- blessed to be in a position
professor and author of “Financial Love-
jobs with young Black job-seekers fresh
experts say, but it appears Blacks are
min Todd Jealous, president where I can give to the NAACP.”
making 101: Merging Assets with Your
out of high school or colleges.
losing more ground just as the economy
and CEO of the NAACP. “Both Perry said. “Had it not been for
Partner in Ways that Feel Good.”
is showing signs of improving.
Several studies indicate that race, more in his films and in his life, he
the perseverance and vision
“President Obama has created a task
than education, plays a bigger role in who reflects an impressive ethos of the thousands who came
Civil rights organizations, advocacy
force on the middle class. He has formed
does and doesn’t get a job. The Center
of caring and conscientious- before me in the 100 years of
groups and several economists have ex-
a task force for the automobile industry. for Labor Market Studies at Northeastern
ness.” this legendary organization, I
pressed alarm at the dire Black unemploy-
His administration has issued bailouts
ment figures and have wondered aloud
University reported that lower-income
NAACP Chairman Julian
would not be in the position I
left and right to banks, insurance compa-
when, and if, President Barack Obama’s
White teens were more likely to find work Bond said, “We are honored
am in today. I continue to be
nies and Wall Street executives,” Watkins
administration will do something to di-
than higher-income Black teens and that that Tyler Perry chose to sup-
thankful for the tireless work
wrote in a May post on AOL Black Voices.
rectly address the issue.
Blacks with college degrees have a jobless
port the NAACP. Tyler is a
of the NAACP, and I am proud
“And although the Black community does
rate twice that rate of their White peers.
courageous pioneer in bring-
to be able to help in their mis-
Earlier this month, the NAACP joined not represent the majority of President
ing positive images of Afri-
sion to fight for the equality
forces with the National Council of La Obama’s constituency, one might argue
“Black men were less likely to receive
can-American culture and
of all people, and to work to-
Raza and the AFL-CIO to prompt the White that a task force on Black unemployment a call-back or job offer than equally quali-
struggles to the screen.His
wards the elimination of dis-
House to do more to create more jobs. could be worth the time it takes to sign a fied White men,” Devah Pager, a Princ- remarkable journey from pov-
crimination against race.”
“It’s time for us to really stoke this
document.” eton University sociology professor who erty and childhood abuse to
Jealous says the money will
issue,” said Hilary O. Shelton, the Meanwhile, experts ponder why Black
studied young Black and White male job become one of the world’s be used to support the Second
NAACP’s senior vice president for advo- unemployment is so high. Many say the
applicants in Milwaukee and New York,
most successful filmmakers Century Society advocacy pro-
cacy and policy, told the New York Times. old standby reasons are still relevant: Dis-
told the Washington Post. “Black men
and entrepreneurs is an inspi- grams on economic equality,
“We’re not so much trying to convince crimination, poverty, lesser education op- with a clean record fare no better than
ration to us all.” education, health care and
him to do something he doesn’t want to portunities than their White counterparts White men just released from prison.”
criminal justice.
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27