i've been a bartender/waitress in nyc for 10 yrs. finding a job is always a lengthy, stressfull experience for me. i hate to play the race card, but the amount of blacks working in white restaurants accurately reflects the percentage of blacks found in the rest of america.

bartending is as much about the way you look as anything else. most places demand a headshot scanned onto your resumee, and won't even accept one without a headshot.

there are times i walk into a restaurant, and i sense the imediate disconfort of the staff/managers. they can't help their innitial split second reactions, and i notice it right away.

but this is really just how it is. i've worked in places that only hired chix, and i know of at least one occasion where i got the job because i was black and "exotic."

nonetheless, its still very difficult, and i'm getting really worried, i hope i find somthing soon :(....... this is what i get for taking my time getting my education.

life-lesson advice to all young negroe/negresses out there: just go straight through to AT LEAST your masters, 'cuz we really do need as much in our baskets ascposible.

It is easy to get lost in the numbers.

Low/mid white kids had an easier time finding work than upper/mid black kids. But those comparisons are nationwide - would the data be very different if we compared those 2 groups within the same metro or state - what about the same neighborhood? Many of the areas in the US that have the weakest economies, have the largest black populations. Even within those states and metros, white people are more likely to live in the suburbs than the inner-city. If all of the jobs are in the suburbs, there are more white people close by to get them. If there are no jobs in the inner-city, and that area has a large concentration of black people, it is going to produce numbers like we are seeing.

Is racism the cause of at least some of this disparity? Hell yes, but that is only a part of these bleak numbers.

This isn't actually that tough a question. The US is, and has been for some time, transitioning from a manufacturing based society to a service/intellect based society. As such, those without advanced education ar e going to be out of work and un, or under - employed. (But see, 12/01 NYT - even the degrees don't close all of the gap). As long as getting an education is not a priority, we are going to steadily lose jobs. Let's be clear, education is not always college, it may be learning a non-outsourceable trade (you can't wait for the plumber to fly in from Mumbai), but you have to have a skill to add value. The days of graduating from high school and getting a job at the plant are ending, if not done.

We also have too many of kids who get into trouble, and don't know what to do, so that it stays with them forever. Anyone who thinks young white kids don't get into trouble is delusional. i've worked with enough folks who've gotten their kids out of stuff... Its easy to say don't get into any trouble, but they are kids, so we need to know, and teach them what they need to know. My child is 8, about as dangerous as milk toast, but he knows if the police ever stop him, he is to be polite and respectful, but he also knows after identifying himself, he is to ask, am I free to leave, and if the answer is yes, to do so, and if it anything else, that that means I am in custody, and please call my mother, she a, and my, lawyer and to be quiet. Even with that knowledge, it is my job to make sure he has access to the best education, activiteis and experiences so that doing the wrong things hold no appeal.

Unemployment between the ages of 18-24 doesn't start at 18, it starts at 3.....

The other part is that we simply don't have some of the resources (networks, etc..) that the parents of non-blacks in that age group had, which puts them in a better position to find jobs during this difficult time. My husband sometimes gets annoyed when I am out doing networking stuff, but its because he wasn't raised around those folks to see it happening up close. his mother is more of the watching the soaps telling the kids to go outside and not checking on them kind of parent.... and he is where he is not because of her but in spite of her. I won't take those chances with my kids...they weren't taken with me.

My company recently hired a bunch of people (7-8). We received about 8000 applications. Not a single person hired did not know someone (network) who was able to get their resumes in the 'serious look' category....

Our people need to get with the program...

Danielle, I'm glad you've written post this to call attention to this fact - we need as much exposure to this issue as possible. MSN is currently doing some articles on the disparity in Black unemployment as well.

I've definitely been personally affected by this economic downturn, as I am still unemployed 1.5 years after my job was eliminated from a Wall Street firm [who I should put on blast, but I think you'll be able to figure it out when I say they were taken over last year during the financial meltdown and then the CEO left soon after for spending mucho $$ decorating his office-among other things and now the current CEO will be leaving BOY 2010 also - because the merger isn't working as planned - Y'all know what firm I'm talking about-they used to have a black CEO (the one they had before the "office decorator" came on board)-No, it's not Time Warner].

I feel it's not a coincidence when me and the other Blacks in my department-and there were only 3 of us out of like 20 or so and we were all college educated, an Asian and those with "more experience" (read older workers) were let go and we were all much more professional than most of the ones they kept on. It made me feel that when the Black CEO left, it seemed that the firm wanted to get purge itself of the other Black people too since the departments were no longer worried about keeping up the front of diversity- I'm just saying.

Sorry for the rant - but as for Obama: Yes, I would like him to start paying attention to jobs because I'd like to know what happened to my resume that I sent in to the Administration before he came on board. You remember how the Obama for America campaign was making a big deal about requesting resumes for positions in the new Administration? - Have any of you ever gotten a call back? That was about the longest application I think I'd ever filled out - I'd love to know if anyone has ever looked at any of the resumes and application they received (Yes, I have a lot of skills to offer that would have deserved at least some consideration. At the least, I would have liked to have had an acknowledgement).

We don't own anything. White folks own their own businesses and hire their own. We are a sub-nation of consumers but we don't do the work to own something of our own.

I lived through the great recession of '82-'83 and I can tell you it was rough. In an ironic twist of fate, I went on disability the same time this recession officially started (November, 2007), so I was spared getting a potential layoff. Thank the universe! Yes, I do.

I agree with Serenity. Although we own more businesses than in the recent past most of us still work in non-Black owned businesses. I must say too that even when we own businesses many Blacks are so busy trying to show how fair they are by hiring non-Blacks the we even get excluded then. Oprah is a great example of that. The vast majority of her staff is White. And looking at her peer Martha Stewart, most of her employees are White as well so we just can't get a break Black-owned or not.

responding to Shuggie; You say only 3 out of 20 in your department like that's an insufficient amount of Black workers. That is 15%. That seems to be in balance with the overall population. When discussing black/white race relations, as a white male, I get the impression that African Americans expect every occupation to be equally balanced 50/50. While there are plenty of instances where there is an imbalance, your post is a perfect example of what I find perplexing. Prior to the layoffs 3 out of 20 appears to be a natural balance.
Of course it is a problem if the workers who remained were not the best qualified.

My question is this: What is the Congressional Black Caucus doing to improve the job situation for blacks in this country? Are they introducing any legislation to change the situation? Are they pushing to get their fellow Democratic and Republican congress men and women to support such legislation? Have they come up with any creative ideas for the creation of jobs programs that will benefit poor and middle class people alike. It is so easy for many members of our race to find a target to point the finger at instead of trying to come up with solutions to our problems (i.e., blame President Obama). Our economy is so eff''d up millions of people are of all races are out of work And this situation didn't just start under this President--it' s been this way for a while,
As someone stated in an earlier post, African Americans are not producing or creating enough jobs to create a balanced situation where more of our people are hired. We have millionaire and a few billionaire athletes and entertainers. We have quite a few historically black colleges. We have thousands of doctors, lawyers, and other professionals.Perhaps collectively or individually these entities can began to invest in franchises and other businesses that create wide scale job opportunities (such as manufacturing companies) that can lead to more of our people gettingn employed. Isn't that what white folks (and other races) with wealth are doing--putting their own people back to work --and if not that, they are outsourcing and sending those jobs overseas.

Well I've been freelancing full time for two years - the problem is as the economy tanked so did the freelance market and I live in one of the hardest hit cities jobs wise.

I have t leave to find a job, BUT my mother had two open heart surgeries back to back not to mention my two small sisters - so it's complicated at best.

It's crazy - I'll apply for freelance gigs and get down to the last 10 15 (out of 150 - 200 apps) and not get the job - largely becasue I'm competing with people with 20 years experience who were laid off form their newspapers or magazines.

It's beyond frustrating.

And at this point I don't know what I'm going to do.

The reason is the networking we are getting there though. We have this thing of dont let them in they will mess it up for you. When that is not the case we are just trying to keep it all to ourselves. I ask people to ask their people about jobs we have to put ourselves out there and connect each other.
I know that it is hard for some to accept that there is still racism but it is what it is. We will remain held back until the Oprah's and Tylers and who ever elses that are black hire only us like their white counterparts. (its ok to have white specs instead of black specs) I dont think they owe me anything but they do owe themselves and they are black people so they need to take care of themselves. Every race has that down packed but blacks.
I love the Black in America title beasue it really explains everything. Why are we the most unemployed becasue we are Black in America

"We will remain held back until the Oprah's and Tylers and who ever elses that are black hire only us like their white counterparts."

so are you saying it's ok to hold people back?

as someone with a name and career track that is not black-woman-dead-giveaway, i can honestly say that it is about the networking. not whom you know, as most say, but who-knows-YOU.

as a former employee and now business owner and entrepreneur, i can say that the economic downturn has forced us all to make difficult decisions. who among us has left the plantation for the Freedom of the Nawth only to have to come back to the plantation come winter??

even so, i have noticed that while there may be a 'circling of the wagons' mentality such that folks are only really looking out for their own, i can also say that there is a lil' bit of ageism, degreeism, lookism, and any other ism you can make up out there as well.

creativity is the only key. well, that and the perseverance of richard williams, maybe.

Swiv,

I dont think it is ok I think we need to address it. I put it out there because I am aware it.

I wish I had some answers, got my Masters in 2006 and really have not seen in make the difference I thought it would make career wise. In 2007, I lost my job spent 14 months unemployed and when I did land a job it was for less than I made a decade ago. Funny thing is that getting even this job required using my network. I definitely agree with other posters that we tend to lack the network to help get us in the door, at the same time it can be hard to develop a network.

Question for anyone out there: how does one develop a network? Is it a buddy buddy system? Is it legitimate or is it giving jobs to people you know just because they're your friends?

I don't usually double-post, but I just wanted to clarify for Anon the point I was making by my comment: (Using your percentage as an example) After our jobs were eliminated, the Black representation in my department went from 15% to 0%, while the White representation increased from 85% to 100% - (Ok, I'd concede 95%, since there were 2 Asians left - But you get my point. Is that clear enough? I would never expect a 50/50 Black/White representation in any majority controlled firm, but I do have a problem when the qualified few minorities that you have on staff lose their jobs, while the less qualified White ones remain.

How have the challenges of unemployment for black men shaped their identity and role in America, in their families, and in their daily lives?

Tonight on Basic Black we will be discussing notions behind masculinity, particularly black masculinity, and what these mean for the black community and social structure. Join us tonight LIVE at 7:30 on WGBH Channel 2 in Boston or streaming on the web at www.basicblack.org! Also tell us your thoughts by participating in the LIVE online chat throughout the show! Tonight our panel includes: Callie Crossley, host of The Callie Crossley Show on WGBH Radio; Latoyia Edwards, anchor, New England Cable News; Peter Roby, Athletic Director, Northeastern University; C. Shawn McGuffey, assistant professor of sociology, Boston College; and Rev. Brandon Crowley, Myrtle Street Baptist Church, Newton, MA.

A Small Ideal

After considering the points within this article - I agree that many urban/inner city areas lack both the resources and the ability to succeeds. The lack of jobs plagues many and has been a problem since I can remember ( quite experienced ). Consider black enterprise as the solution to the resolve much of the burden within the inner city. Find a way to establish small businesses and hire those in need. Those capable; mentor, teach, and guide. Build a network of business owners to share in trends within the micro climate of inner city, and work hard giving selfishly to the youth and neighbor. I am tired of the failings of our country to establish equality through the myriad of laws. The laws are a failure and they have not worked in 100 years. Do you believe they will work tomorrow?

I was so impressed by Dr. King - he truly challenged America to take hold of there future and be accountable for past failings within the community. His ideals should transcend the ages. Government help will never cure the problem, only a belief that one can succeed if one work towards a goal with undying devotion.

My family came to America during the great immigration of the 1900's - poor. I remember my grandmother telling me how frugal they lived, how they worked tirelessly making small improvements in there lives. They had a network in the Italian sections of New Jersey and New York that they used it - Italians. I understood from talking to my grandmother that she never expected to have much, but her dream was to give my mother and uncles a better opportunity. I am sure everyone can appreciate the dilemma of not providing hope through our actions and the sheer hopelessness it will cause our children.

I am sure that being black has added additional burdens to all Black Americans ability to succeed. I hope everyday that our country will begin to develop an understanding of how much we have lost as a nation by not accelerating the lives of bright young students. It took me a long to understand caustic affects of racism from the eyes of a friend - naïve and young at the time. I am sure some of you are asking why I care - I need my country to be proud in all our hearts, to be a place where I can work next to a my brothers and sisters where our thoughts focus on accomplishing goals and what we will do tomorrow together.

You have a burden - bear it and be proud, you will succeed. I know I probably should not have written this but I thought an old point of view might plant a small seed that will grow a forest. Please educate the children no matter how hard it is to accomplish.

I can not hope for myself, but only for the children - who said that?

Respectfully,

tcg