By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Oct 26th 2010 11:52AM
Filed under: News, The Economy, Credit Report
A new report from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee shows a disturbing trend for African American men. According to the study, 53.3 percent of the black men in the city of Milwaukee had no job during the year 2009. This rate was more than double the 22.3 percent unemployment rate for white males in the area, and nearly six times the national average unemployment rate of 9.2 percent.
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Blacks in the News
Dion "Rocko" Williams, the rear-tire carrier for Hendrick Motorsports, is one of just a handful of African Americans working today in NASCAR's pit crews. (Jeff Willhelm/Charlotte Observer/MCT)
MCT
Charlotte Observer
BlackVoices.com
Blacks in the News
Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato, left, arrives with Joe Preston Jr., the chairman of Consumer Affairs Committee Pa. House of Representatives, at One Hope Center in Pittsburgh's Hill District to accept the endorsement for governor by local African -American leaders, Monday, Oct. 25, 2010. (AP Photo/John Heller)
Blacks in the News
Dion "Rocko" Williams, the rear-tire carrier for Hendrick Motorsports, is one of just a handful of African Americans working today in NASCAR's pit crews. (Jeff Willhelm/Charlotte Observer/MCT)
Blacks in the News
Dion "Rocko" Williams, the rear-tire carrier for Hendrick Motorsports, is one of just a handful of African Americans working today in NASCAR's pit crews. (Jeff Willhelm/Charlotte Observer/MCT)
Blacks in the News
Dion "Rocko" Williams, the rear-tire carrier for Hendrick Motorsports, is one of just a handful of African Americans working today in NASCAR's pit crews. (Jeff Willhelm/Charlotte Observer/MCT)
Blacks in the News
In this publicity image released by Sesame Street, a brown muppet representing an African-American girl is shown during the taping of the "I Love My Hair," video for the children's program, "Sesame Street." The video was inspired by the five-year-old daughter of "Sesame Street" head writer Joey Mazzarino. (AP Photo/Sesame Street, Zach Hyman)
Blacks in the News
In this publicity image released by Sesame Street, a brown muppet representing an African-American girl is shown during the taping of the "I Love My Hair," video for the children's program, "Sesame Street." The video was inspired by the five-year-old daughter of "Sesame Street" head writer Joey Mazzarino. (AP Photo/Sesame Street, Zach Hyman)
Blacks in the News
Shauna St. Clair from Georgetown Hospital help instruct African-American Seniors about stroke signs and what steps they should take, during a community meeting at Hattie Holmes Wellness Center in the Petworth neighborhood of Washington, Monday, Oct. 4, 2010.(AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
Blacks in the News
Shauna St. Clair from Georgetown Hospital helps instruct African-American Seniors about stroke signs and what steps they should take, during a community meeting at Hattie Holmes Wellness Center in the Petworth neighborhood of Washington, Monday, Oct. 4, 2010.(AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
Blacks in the News
** TO GO WITH EEUU HISPANOS MUSULMANES ** In this photo taken Sep. 10, 2010, Laila Franco, 8, left, daughter of Alvaro Franco, 28, and Candice Elam, 28, praying in the back, poses for pictures, at her home in New Jersey. Alvaro Franco is a Colombian permanent resident in the United States who converted to Islam 14 years ago. His wife, an African American woman, converted to the Islam seven years ago. (AP Photo/Mariana Cristancho-Ahn)
Blacks in the News
** TO GO WITH EEUU HISPANOS MUSULMANES ** In this photo taken Sep. 10, 2010, Alvaro Franco, 28, right, and his wife Candice Elam, 28, pray at their home in New Jersey. Franco is a Colombian permanent resident in the United States who converted to Islam 14 years ago. His wife, an African American woman, converted to the Islam seven years ago. (AP Photo/Mariana Cristancho-Ahn)
Blacks in the News
The unemployment rate for black men in Milwaukee is substantially higher than it was the year before, rising 13.4 percent in just one year. Since 1970, the rate of joblessness for black men has more than doubled. Mark Levine, the author of the study, presents a series of reasonable recommendations for dealing with the unemployment problem, including the strengthening of re-entry programs for felons, government funding of green jobs and finding more effective ways to deal with the wave of mass incarceration that has taken place since the 1970s.
I wrote an
open letter to President Obama on AOL Black Voices regarding the problem with black unemployment. Some construed the letter to imply that I do not support the president, but that would be incorrect. At worst, my support for any political figure is conditional upon him/her addressing the needs and issues that affect African Americans. Thus far, the Obama Administration does not appear to have made black unemployment and mass incarceration serious priorities, and this is disappointing.
The fact that none of the Washington politicians have put massive black unemployment on their radar screens presents sufficient cause for many African Americans to be unenthusiastic about the upcoming mid-term elections. Sure, the Republicans would be worse than the Democrats, but neither group appears capable of significantly impacting the lives of African Americans. This doesn't mean that African Americans shouldn't vote, but it does mean that millions of black folks will presume that the state of their own existence won't be changed if they take time out of their day to visit the voting booth.
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Overall, the solutions to the massive black unemployment problem are going to have to start at home. Individual community organizers should demand that their elected officials deal with the unemployment issue. Additionally, it is imperative that we teach our children about the systems that are designed to destroy them. The prison system, educational system and economic system are not structured to favor the African American male. Therefore, you must prepare your black boys to be focused, strong and disciplined.
Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and a Scholarship in Action Resident of the Institute for Black Public Policy. To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here. 
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Comments: (11)
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By: kirok on 10/26/2010 12:28PM
In 2008, an exit poll showed 96-97% of African Amercians voted for President Obama. The platform for his(Obama)campaign was "Change". Well, looks like with 53% unemployment amongst Black males in Milwaukee, "change" is exactly what they got. Though I would say it's a change for the worst. Voting based on color, culture or creed, is never a smart way to elect somebody. In 2012, the opportunity to vote for the Presidency will once again be upon us. Will African Americans vote once more on the basis of color? Gee...I sure hope not. Enough said!
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By: altha cutright on 10/27/2010 9:18PM
Kirok, what do you want from Obama? I voted for him i didn't do this becauase of his skin color. I feel the President has done a lot's since he been in office to help all Americans not just blacks. When you talk about jobs, what about the Gov. of your state didn't Obama put money in our states for small business to hire. Help banks so banks can help us he didn't know they wouldn't do their job, and your Gov. of your state got money to create jobs, but what happen to that money? i'll tell you it went in his pocket to help himself. If you black people get out and VOTE republican what ever happen (and it will) it's on you.
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By: SON on 10/26/2010 12:49PM
Black men just aren't good workers ! Not just in the USA but all over the world. I do not hire black people anymore. It seems that they just want a free ride, I guess they got used to collecting welfare for so many years that they now have NO work ethic. And they always pull a RACE card, then wanting to sue for discrimination that is not even there.
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By: Cory on 10/26/2010 2:19PM
Wow, you generalize and assume that all black ppl are one welfare. Statistically, there are more white ppl on welfare than black ppl. the census records this data www.census.gov. "All over the world" is funny. Are you even qualified to say this? Have you even been outside the country and watched black workers?
The shoe can easily be on the other foot. Wouldn't you hate for someone not to hire you, just because of unfounded generalizations about your race.
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By: The Cynic on 10/27/2010 12:05AM
I like how you say I will not hire black people and then try to degrade us by using CLASSIST laden racial stereotypes. Did you ever think we would get off welfare or prison if people like you never discriminated in the work place? I don't do any of those things of course, but I would imagine you are not as dumb to thing those two things aren't related? Oh you are? Never mind...
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By: mscaribbeanma on 11/03/2010 12:25AM
you do not hire black people
isnt there a LAW AGAINST THAT
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By: darren walton on 11/15/2010 10:58AM
first off, there are more white people on welfare then black folks!!!! get your info right.
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By: The Cynic on 10/31/2010 6:36PM
Black people, this is why we need to invest in our children's education in TWO parent households while creating jobs for US in OUR communities. This society has been trying to beat us down for years. Blacks like Malcolm X and Booker T. Have been preaching about self determination and the need for us to instill skills and education in order to combat the land known as Amerikkka.
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By: Mike on 10/28/2010 12:05AM
How many black men live in Milwaukee.
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By: Bryan S. on 10/27/2010 5:09PM
I don't know exactly, but I am a black male that resides in the city of Milwaukee and from what I have read that their are over 200,000 blacks in Milwaukee. We do have a lot of unemployed males from all races. Milwaukee is a city that is very hard on the black male.
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