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In the middle of a blizzard last February, Reverend Al Sharpton, Marc Morial and Benjamin Jealous huddled at a bank of microphones outside of the White House following their visit with President Barack Obama. The visit fueled a minor controversy when the trio were chastened for their unwillingness to utter the words "black unemployment." They used the euphemism "urban communities," but we all knew they meant "black."
Back then we were told by NAACP President Ben Jealous that a "rising tide lifts all boats": "When you try to focus on how to lift all those boats, what you come back to are places -- geographic areas, urban and rural, where assistance should be located," Jealous said. "That approach can work if Congress lets it work... This is about place. It's not about race." In other words, by focusing on the overall economy, black folks would benefit as well.
If the central theme of the White House economic policy is "a rising tide lifts all boats," then black folks are struggling mightily aboard the U.S.S. Blackfolk.
It's true. If the overall economy improves, so do the fortunes of black people. The tiny little problem with the "rising tide" theory is that not all boats are equally sea worthy. Yes, a rising tide lifts all boats, but if some of the boats have massive holes in the hulls and the people on board are drowning, logic tells us that perhaps these listing boats might need some targeted emergency assistance.
The U.S.S. Blackfolk got sent to sea with no life boats and fewer life vests. If we land in the water we just have to struggle to tread water. In addition to taking on water due to barriers in access to education, capital and employment, subprime lenders specifically target the passengers of the U.S.S. Blackfolk for high interest mortgage loans. Now in addition to being set adrift by the Obama administration to survive an economic tsunami while we're listing to one side, the U.S.S. Blackfolk is expected to carry the weight of the Democratic party to victory during the midterm elections?In the waning days of the campaign season, the Democrats have touted the extraordinary measures they are taking to engage black voters in a targeted manner. The Democratic National Committee invested $3 million in radio, print, and online advertising focusing on the black community. They've enlisted celebrities John Legend, Jaime Foxx and Russell Simmons in radio ads, conference calls and at political rallies. In 2006, they only spent $260,000.
If a rising tide lifts all boats, why don't the Democrats catch a ride on some of the other boats? After all, the unemployment rate on the U.S.S Blackfolk is 16.1 percent -- almost twice that of the general population. Sure we're floating in the same turbulent economic storm as everyone else, but it appears we're taking on water faster than everyone else as well.
On Tuesday, in a conference call organized by the Democratic National Committee for black online media, White House Senior Adviser Valerie Jarrett argued that despite the fact that the administration does not appear to have any targeted job creation programs on its agenda for blacks, the passengers of the U.S.S. Blackfolk must turn out in large numbers to vote for Obama's Democratic allies in order to insure that his agenda moves forward.
When I asked her to explain how black unemployment would look any different if the Republicans retook control of the house, she cited the President's plan for new infrastructure and community college programs for job retraining, neither of which would address black unemployment in the immediate future.
Why is it when other boats ask for specific help, they get a targeted response, but when the U.S.S. Blackfolk sends out a distress call, we get told to wait until the tide comes in? When the U.S.S BigBank was drowning, they didn't get told to tread water until the storm passes, they got targeted help to ride out the storm. Some boats get bailed out, while the U.S.S Blackfolk keeps bobbing along taking on water. Even Latinos have been given a specific education bill created just for them, which will help that community stay afloat. Now the U.S.S. Blackfolk is being asked to carry the load for a party that didn't even want to utter the words "black unemployment." Yes, B-L-A-C-K unemployment.
Related:
+Open Letter to Obama: Black Unemployment Must Be Addressed
+Fighting for Jobs, Fighting for You: A Message From Rep. Barbara Lee
Let me say it again. Black unemployment. Black-i-ty black black black unemployment. Black unemployment! It's not a small, inconsequential matter. It's worthy of its own agenda. Longtime unemployment changes destinies. It's not just a downturn for us. This is an utter and complete devastation whose impact will last for generations.
Irrespective of the outcome on November 2, whatever political capital the Obama administration is left with on Wednesday morning should be expended on engaging in combating the black unemployment that's a gaping hole in the hull of the U.S.S. Blackfolk. If not, the U.S.S Blackfolk will be so far underwater by 2012 no one will be able to ride us ashore to victory.
Gina McCauley is the CEO of the Blogging While Brown Conferenceand the blogsMichelle Obama Watch and What About Our Daughters. She is currently completing her first book, 'Michelle Obama Watch.'
Comments: (80)
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By: rudy on 11/01/2010 1:08PM
We all know President Obama and his administration are struggling to keep unemployment remain under control..They don't know how they manage the deficits..thats the problem... I am sure President Obama is aware of black unemployment is much more serious problem ...The tea party movements or republican party wanted to cut social programs (food stamps and welfare checks) to eliminate it ..Also to stop extend unemployment checks up to 18 or 24 months..So the deficit down a bit..I noticed black middle class families is shrinking very slowly..I heard some of black leaders are very disappointed in President Obama because he and the people who are working with him are not doing a good job ..No wondering two people who left the obama administration for good..I suspected they disagreed some of the policies needs to be changed..None of them took the action yet!
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By: Sally on 10/29/2010 5:37PM
the problem is if social programs are cut, white people are effected as much maybe more than black people....why? Because they are employed by the counseling services, the food banks....they own the mom& pop stores -- or at least the Asians and Arabs do -- so when these social programs are cut, there's going to be a ripple effect in the White & Asian community. Why do you think Walmart is struggling now? They depend on the "little" people and their welfare checks and social security payments. Do you think rich whites are going to shop at Walmart?
What we have to do is figure out how to follow in the way of the Asians who believe in owning businesses. There is a trend now by whites that instead of sending their kids to college which will cost a fortune and get them in debt, they are buying/investing in franchises....which makes more sense when you think about it. For $10,000 you can put a down payment on a janitorial service or a Uhaul franchise and take care of yourself and not depend on a company for a paycheck. Or become a consultant (as my cousin did) with an engng degree. We have to think outside the box.
The urban poor will continue to be poor. But the rest of the population who are smart, educated, articulate and have the ability to be Harvard graduates should think about entrepreneurship.
Back in the day before Civil Rights, our people did almost whatever to make money whether that was picking apples in Michigan, or shining shoes, or house keeping -- it was a form of entrepreneurship.
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By: Thomas on 10/30/2010 3:50PM
How N the hell can you say that President Obama is not doing a good job I think you are blind N one eye and cant see out of the other one,for everything that he has done he has to fight for it,I think we need to do something with these dam Republican who dont want to work with the President,and then you got Sarah Palin 4 president who N there right mind would vote for her,that goes to show you that white peoples would rather put a Dummy in the white house then a black President,they would rather see the country go to Hell than do the right things
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By: Brady on 10/29/2010 4:38PM
MS. Gina McCauley
Lord thank you, for talking to us like adults. Thank you for telling the truth, and not a one sided version of the truth. Just laying out the facts. This isnt about republicans, tea party or conservatism. Its about getting on the DAMN AGENDA!
Getting a seat at the damn table.
This shyt isnt personal, all of us admire and respect the President, but this is insanity. Ms jarret couldnt even give you a striaght answer. The CBC bitterly complained of the administration and partcularly Ms Jarret ignoring them.
Business, gays and latinos not only got a straight answer, they get money and promises. Black folk get lectures. Come on!!!!!
And to make this insult even worse, BLACK FOLK are ok with this. You actually have negroes defending this crap.
If i didnt know any better, id think we were still on the plantation. You negroes do the heavy lifting to benefit other groups.
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By: Alice on 10/29/2010 7:27PM
I agree with you, because if we don't wake up we are going to be back were we were two years ago. I just watched the dvd called AmericanBlackout and I could not believe the things that were done during the presidential elections in 2000 and 2004. Everyone should get this dvd and watch it you will learn a lot.
I know I have. You can also get it at the library.
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By: s walker on 10/30/2010 8:32AM
Gina mc cauley,don't look now but you are still on the plantation. For your information, with the slave mentality that you are exhibiting on this blog i am very doubtful that you will ever leave. This president has only been in office for two years,He has done more for blacks than any president in history. this administration took on a deficit that could of very easily have put this country in dire straits for the next twenty years, the government was on the verge of collapse .A large percentage of jobs was and continue to be shipped over seas . The housing forclouse was at its higest level since the 80's He came in to office with the idea that he would be working togeather with a large percentage of democrats as well as republicans that they would use team effort to fix some of the inherited problems.needless to say some of his own democratic party was not as forth coming as they should have been ,Not to mention the republicans that had caused this very unfortunate situation,To my knowledge said no to every single thing that the president proposed to do .Thier main objective was , and remain for the president to fail. With the assistance of share croppers like your self and some the other uninformed people on this blog they just might get thier wish....
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By: Pink on 10/29/2010 7:31PM
I think it's a situation where the president doesn't want to appears that he's helping minorities too much. I do think he's concerned; but it's a slippery slope. In short any intelligent person has to know that the president is concerned about the overall economy, and jobs. And if he could snap his finger and it was instantly fixed he would snap his finger.
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By: Brady on 10/29/2010 7:57PM
"I think it's a situation where the president doesn't want to appears that he's helping minorities too much."
And there you have it, total acquiesce. Amazing!!
He doesnt seem to have that concern about immigration reform. Arent latinos minorities?
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By: Greg Franklin on 10/30/2010 10:50AM
the current administration does not appear to have a problem helping Hispanics. Sotomayor was put on the Supreme Court. Hispanics congressmen only supported the healthcare legislation under the agreement that immigration reform be addressed immediately, and it was. Hispanics got their agenda addressed and us blackfolk continue to get rhetoric. This administration has taken blackfolk for granted. Obama does not get a free pass just because he is half black. Blackfolk are in crisis regarding black unemployment, we did not land on Plymouth rock,Plymouth rock landed on us
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By: Pink on 10/29/2010 7:31PM
Sally: @Your comment that "Do you think rich whites are going to shop at Walmart?" hints that all white people are rich. I assume that's not exactly what u meant. My bigger point is not all white people, and not all jews are rich....which some people seem t think.
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