Washington, April 04: A report by the National Urban League, a leading US civil rights organization, has turned the spotlight on the plight of Black Americans as figures show Black unemployment picked up in March from 15.3 to 15.5 percent compared with 7.9 percent for white workers, a Media correspondent in Washington reported on Saturday.
The annual study, which examines the lives of blacks in the US, says a big disparity exists between whites and African Americans, who struggle to find jobs, get adequate healthcare and enroll in colleges.
“You have to speak English and Spanish as well to get certain type of job…. They go to school and receive the bachelor’s degree and that is still not enough, “Ruben Young, a representative with the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Union told Media.
According to the latest US Labor Department figures, overall jobless rates across the country fell to a better-than-expected 8.8 percent in March as the economy added roughly 216,000 jobs, but the unemployment rate for black teenagers stood at 50 percent — more than double the national average.
Meanwhile, some urban organizations such as the Greater Washington Urban League — a subsidiary of the National Urban League — are struggling to find an antidote to the problem. However, many are taking a less optimistic view at a time when the economy is under severe strains.
“I think people in Washington are distracted and not paying attention to what people are facing across the nation,” Urban League president, Marc Morial, said, adding that “Even though there’s Libya, Afghanistan and all these issues going on, let’s keep the focus on jobs. It’s the number one concern for Americans.”
Experts say improving black unemployment stagnation requires taking an industry-wide approach that also encourages racial sensitivities.
“We need much stronger enforcement of anti-discrimination policies,” Algernon Austin, an economic analyst, told Media.
The Urban League will be offering its set of proposals, including providing funding for a summer youth jobs program and creating 100 urban job training schools to members of Congress this week.
——–Agencies