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African Americans Hit Hardest By Job Loss

Published by Pamela Gentry on Friday, March 6, 2009 at 9:53 pm.

By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Anaylst 

March 6, 2009 – African-American workers were hit the hardest by the continued plunge in the labor market where more than 651,000 jobs were lost in the month of February.  This was the largest loss of jobs in one month  in nearly 50 years. 

Since the recession began in December of 2007, 4.4 million jobs have disappeared.   Black folks who have lost their jobs or stopped looking are now part of historic double-digit unemployment statistics.  From January to February the overall population jumped from 7.6 to 8.1 percent: African-American workers soared to 13.4  percent. 

African-Americans aren’t alone; Hispanic unemployment rates also hit double-digits since January and are now at 10.9 percent.

During a conference call Friday, White House Chief of Staff,  Rahm Emanuel said the president’s stimulus plan has placed resources at the state and local levels that will help.  “I think the next stage is to pass the president’s budget,” he added.

It’s not clear how long a measureable turnaround could take, but Valerie Jarrett, senior advisor to the president, echoed the president’s message.  “If the American people want it [change] they need to stay engaged, ” she said. 

Last Saturday President Barack Obama addressed the State of the Black Union symposium [via video-tape] held in Los Angeles. The event was hosted by Tavis Smiley, author and television host. Obama told those gathered,  “Tough times for America often mean tougher times for African Americans. This recession has been no exception,” Obama said. “The unemployment rate among Black Americans is a full five points higher than the rate among Americans as a whole. At the same time, we know that government cannot and will not succeed alone. It will take all of us stepping up and doing our part.”

The February unemployment numbers when compared to a year ago show the largest annual jump since the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics began keeping track after World War III. 

With all the gloom and doom in the economy, housing and unemployment, a recent poll conducted for Smiley’s annual symposium found African Americans more optimistic than their White counterparts.

 Fifty-eight percent of Blacks said they expect their household financial situation to improve next year compared to only 30 percent of the general population.

When those polled were asked if their financial situation would worsen, 16 percent of African Americans believed their situation would; 29 percent of the general population anticipated more financial difficulty in 2010. 

Smiley and economic experts attending the conference attribute the optimism by outlook could be related to “pride and confidence” in the first African-American president. 

Emanuel defended the president’s ambitious agenda and noted the stimulus package will create jobs in urban areas where African Americans will benefit and job creation will come through small businesses and minority contracting.

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Comments

Kevin R. Scott said on March 6th, 2009

I filed my first unemployment claim the other day and reality set in. It felt very uncomfortable.

WW4P.com

Taj said on March 6th, 2009

I’ve been on unemployment since Oct 08 of last year. I initially filed in April 08, then worked Jun-Sept. It’s truly depressing & stressful, especially knowing finding a job is difficult. There are so many people competing for so few jobs. I do a lot of crying and praying.

RED NECK HUNTER said on March 7th, 2009

IN TIMES LIKE THESE SINGLE FAMILIES SHOULD HOOK UP AND COMBINE THEIR INCOMES. SOME POEPLE WILL SEE IT IN A WRONG WAY BUT THAT IS WHAT I HAD TO DO WHEN I MOVE TO FLORIDA AND FELL ON HARD TIMES. I MET THIS LADY SHE HAD FOUR KIDS AND I HAD ONE ,WE DATED SOME AND MADE AN AGREEMENT TO LIVE WITH EACH OTHER BECAUSE OF MONEY PROBLEMS. SHE FINISHED SCHOOL WE BOTH GOT OUR FEET ON THE GROUND IN THREE YEARS AND WE MOVED ON . WE ARE STILL CLOSE FRIENDS AND THE KIDS RIGHT NOW.

JOE said on March 8th, 2009

omg. get a freaking job!!!! it might actually require that you WORK!

Karen said on March 8th, 2009

I think we, as black people, really need to think about why we have always been so connected and can not seem to pry ourselves away from the Democratic party. What have they REALLY done for black America? Consider the last few years up until our present day. President Clinton was often described as our first ‘black president’, and usually this description was only given to him following the scandal between him and Monica Lewinsky! Or, when he appeared on the Arsenio Hall show, wearing sunglasses and playing the saxophone. Is that how we view ourselves?
What about President Obama? He touted that the Stimulus package needed to pass in order to get people back to work. But, will that really happen? Have you reviewed the package? He says he wants to get rid of the earmarks, but the package seems to be filled with nothing but! A few people may get work building bridges, but what happens after that and what happens with other professions? Also, he says how we all need to cut-back, but yet he doesn’t seem to be walking the talk, considering the way he’s spending money. The Presidency is the highest position held by one person in our nation. We must consider the seriousness, review the policies of candidates and use this to make our decisions, rather than using our emotions.
Over the last few years, I have seen the Democratic Party as one of wanting to keep minority Americans down, dumb and dependent! We DO NOT have to rely on the government to survive!!!

RED NECK HUNTER said on March 8th, 2009

KAREN ..WELL SPOKEN FOR A HOUSE NEGRO OR A WHITE PERSON THAT SAYS THEY ARE BLACK!! SHUT UP AND FISH.

Karen said on March 8th, 2009

Hey, Red Neck Hunter; you’re proving them right every day! Keep up the good work!

DOWN, DUMB and DEPENDENT~ Enough said.

Karen said on March 8th, 2009

Hey, Red Neck Hunter;

You’re living proof that the 3D’s are operating in full force :o ) Keep up the good work!

DOWN, DUMB & DEPENDENT!!!!

RED NECK HUNTER said on March 9th, 2009

I got something you would be dependent on!! it has 2D’s and a W…..D^ck..Dope and Weave.

RED NECK HUNTER said on March 9th, 2009

Oh I thought you were talking about the lack of your Breasteses size. Dumb get a man!! or a rubber Doll.

valor said on March 9th, 2009

Wow, hey red, lighten up.
This new stimulus bill for construction jobs will go to around 15% illeagals.

A quick note, you should not misspell breast then call someone dumb..

Sharon said on March 9th, 2009

Karen,

Stop assuming that blacks are not educated enough to research, weight the alternatives and STILL CHOOSE PRESIDENT ELECT OBAMA. Just because you don’t like the choice doesn’t make it wrong. By the way he has been in office for less than 3 months and excuse me but where were your instructions about how to select a president when ole boy Bush was tearing up the country? Right now the government has to help those who would starve without assistance. Of course that is not the concern of you republicans and never has been; precisely why DEMOCRATS ARE RULING THINGS NOW! And when we need an ACCURATE history lesson about Bill Clinton we’ll seek a realiable source i.e. NOT YOU.

RED NECK HUNTER said on March 9th, 2009

VALOR ..IS SEE YOU HAVE NO “T.V.” AT YOUR HOME HAVE YOU EVER WATCHED” IN LIVING COLOR” BREAST IS MISSPELLED BECAUSE HE SAYS BREASTESTES! ASS HOLE MOKEY BUTT FISH FACE TRUTLE NECK BASTARD!!

RED NECK HUNTER said on March 9th, 2009

CORRECTION..MONKEY BUTT.

Payton said on March 9th, 2009

@REDNBLACK
Your dialogue towards a female is absolutely disgusting. On top of that, you don’t even have the intellect to refute any of her arguments. Furthermore, when you speak in such a manner it makes it hard for people to respect you and that good advice that you originally stated. It’s disturbing that you would actually say that you were indirectly responsible for three children and then respond twice with sexual exploits. I’m younger than you but, SON you have to do better!!!

Payton said on March 9th, 2009

Pardon Me. That was direct to REDNECKBLACK

Payton said on March 9th, 2009

Pardon Me. That was directed to RED NECK HUNTER

Alex said on March 9th, 2009

I think the white man is trying to keep us down. thats whats going on. they take our jobs…women…education. we are still slaves!

Payton said on March 9th, 2009

@ Sharon
Persons such as yourself will be better served when you understand that President Obama is President Bush. The Democratic Party is the Republican Party. It’s not of them against one another; it’s them against us. You can’t get this from television. Furthermore, being “poor” in this current economy is philosophically less stressful. Ever since those 3 months you point to $316 billion dollars have been lost in retirement funds alone. Now, are you telling me that during the Bush year’s financial analyst, government regulatory agencies and journalist all overlooked the trouble ahead in the economy? I mean there jobs consist of forecasting and they are regarded as the “best of the best”. No. They didn’t overlook it. This thing was planned prior to President Obama and timed to support his policies. If you allow your livelihood to fall into his “HOPE” and “CHANGE” ______, then you will soon find out that he too, is a liar and nothing more than a mere figurehead.

RED NECK HUNTER said on March 9th, 2009

Payton.. You sound so sweet and cute what color are your panties?

valor said on March 9th, 2009

Red neck,
I have a TV but I read more, you should try it. Maybe,(doubtful) if you did, you would not sound so ignorant.
With your language, what are you like 14??
So you fell on hard times?
What a shock, I just can’t imagine someone not hiring you, you seem to be such a class act.

RED NECK HUNTER said on March 9th, 2009

I know you don’t have a T.V. you would not have said I messed up with the word Breast. Butt Plug!! Valor huh? change it to valet !! now go get it!!

valor said on March 10th, 2009

Red neck,
You’re a funny guy. I said 14, I should have said, 12.

RED NECK HUNTER said on March 10th, 2009

VALOR..YOUR RIGHT 14 IS A BIT TO MUCH 12INCH IS RIGHT ON THE MONEY!! IF YOUR A DUDE YOU CAN’T HAVE NONE!!

Charles said on March 10th, 2009

My thoughts are that we need to watch out for Obama and his liberal agenda. He favors programs for illegals over help for Americans! Maybe cuz he was alien to America before he lived with his white grand parents! Look at his wealfare/stimulus plan…it give money to stimulate the economy with projects in construction that mostly benefit illegals and gives money for education to mostly benifit illegals and money for social services that benifits illegals! Sooo you know what I’m saying? I’m trying to see where it helps us but I only see where it helps illegals stay here and take our jobs, homes and kids educations! Peace!

Ronnie said on March 10th, 2009

Charles,Valor, Karen and Payton are right! RED NECK is a RED NECK and Sharon is just plain brainwashed like sooo many that drank the Obama cool-aid!
We need to look seriously at what “the man” Obama is doing to us! He is stimulating the illegal population with his wealfare programs and not giving us anything! He’s a well spoken white man possing! Even Oprah bought it but she’s as “house” as they come! Take a close look at the Obama plan and you will see that the majority of the “stimulus” does nothing for blacks in America and helps illegals stay here comfortably so they don’t have to go back to mexico. They stay and the corporations get cheap labor and government handouts for their familys! Rich white get mexicans to pay rents in the apartments they rent out while they move out of the inner cities to the suburbs or the shore and we get to sit at the back of the bus again! Pretty sneaky!

valor said on March 10th, 2009

red
I was talking about your I.Q.
Not your imagination..

C My Way Out of It said on March 10th, 2009

To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.

may said on March 11th, 2009

Red neck hunter,
your body parts don’t have nohting to do with your weight! your stupid and childish. You need to be somewhere praying because your time is coming to real soon. My black people on here don’t worry about whitie,HAVEN’T THEY LIED TO US LONG ENOUGH! WE ARE THE CHOSEN RACE BY GOD. PLEASE REREAD YOUR BIBLES AND UNDERSTAND THAT GOD HAS CHOSEN ISRAEL AS HIS PEOPLE! HISTORY THEY REWROTE, GOD CANNOT LIE….WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND AND COME TOGETHER AND HELP ONE ANOTHER…

wanda said on March 16th, 2009

sounds more like he`s 4….and uneducated,he don`t know any better. poor thing.May!!! it`s just some people on this earth that just can`t comprehend so don`t waste your time with stupid people like red neck or who ever it is.

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