Posted on 08/30/2011 3:55:10 PM PDT by Kaslin
Overall U.S. unemployment is 9.1%. For white adults, it's 8%, and for white teens, 23%. Black adult unemployment stands at 17%, and for black teens, it's 40%, more than 50% in some cities, for example, Washington.
Chapter 3 of "Race and Economics," my most recent book, starts out, "Some might find it puzzling that during times of gross racial discrimination, black unemployment was lower and blacks were more active in the labor force than they are today."
Up until the late 1950s, the labor force participation rate of black teens and adults was equal to or greater than their white counterparts. In fact, in 1910, 71% of black males older than 9 were employed, compared with 51% for whites.
As early as 1890, the duration of unemployment among blacks was shorter than it was among whites, whereas today unemployment is both higher and longer-lasting among blacks than among whites.
How might one explain yesteryear's lower black unemployment and greater labor force participation?
The usual academic, civil rights or media racial discrimination explanation for black/white socio-economic differences just wouldn't hold up.
I can't imagine even the most harebrained professor, civil rights leader or media "expert" arguing that there was less discrimination a century ago and that explains why there was greater black labor market participation.
Racial discrimination or low skills can explain low wages but not unemployment.
During the 1930s, there were a number of federal government interventions that changed the black employment picture.
The first was the Davis-Bacon Act of 1931, which mandated minimum wages on federally financed or assisted construction projects.
During the bill's legislative debate, the racial objectives were clear.
(Excerpt) Read more at investors.com ...
That’s a cool photo shop job. Did you do this? I recognize it as one of the pictures often shown of the depression. Of course I see the great one and Wookie dancing but also there is Lenin on the billboard, those are Nancy Pelosi’s eyes in the other billboard, looks like the “that’s racist kid” in the oval and Shummer laying up on the sign. Oh and that’s the Hagia Sophia in the background. What did I miss?
Also looks like Sarkosy on the left. I first that was just some wonk.
But that's Rangle sleeping on the sign.
The guy helping Obama with his basketball picks is a nobody. Or maybe he's an ESPN guy or something.
Given the Davis-Bacon Act, legalizing abortion, the minimum wage laws, Welfare, and all of the other unfortunate government laws and programs that have crippled the black families in this country and you have to wonder if this has all been accidental.
That's Andy Katz, a senior college basketball writer for ESPN.com.
Thanks! He’s a somebody now!
There’s a reason “I’m from the government and I’m here to help you” has become perhaps the most notorious punch line after “I call it ‘The Aristocrats’!”.
Ok so that was just some wonk on the left. Rangle, Scummer it’s all the same to me. Anyway really cool photo shop.
Low employment of blacks is mildly racist, for it occurs now... and we all hear from the left that racist against blacks still exists, it's just more subtle. Plus, we see the racism of low expectations (instituted by the left, of course).
So, considering that there is a direct correlation between black employment and the level of racism in America (higher the level of racism against blacks = higher black employment), it stands to reason that when there is no racism in America against blacks... there will be zero employment of blacks.
Well, at least, if you go by historical trends and legislation enacted by feel-good, busy-body, nanny-state leftists under the guise of Democrats and Republicans.
The best thing would be for everyone to have the same opportunity for employment (and education, for that matter), but no guarantee of success.
How about all the fans of WEW agree to add the keyword wew to articles by Walter? I'll bet Dr. Williams would be pleased to have his own Three Letter Acronym on FR :)
What about adding Thomas Sowell to the list?
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