Jesse Jackson Paints Bleak Picture of Black America - blacks are jobless, deep in debt or in jail

usnews.com ^ | July 26, 2013 | Elizabeth Flock

[Tailgunner Joe]

PHILADELPHIA—Black America is largely unemployed, in debt and in prison, civil rights activist Rev. Jesse Jackson told hundreds gathered at the annual National Urban League conference Friday, before asking them what they were going to do about it.

"If you're someone with credit card debt, stand," said Jackson. A segment of the audience stood. "If you're someone with student loans, stand," he said. Nearly everyone in the audience stood. "And if you're someone looking for a job, stand," he said. Many more people tentatively raised their hands.

"That's the state of black America," he said. "We are free but not equal. Free to be unemployed."

A host of big name civil rights leaders joined Jackson Friday in warning of the unemployment and incarceration crisis for black Americans, citing statistics including that more than half of male African-American high school dropouts are unemployed, according to an analysis from the left-leaning site Remapping Debate, and that of the over 2 million Americans in prison, half are black.

In June, the Labor Department's job numbers also showed that the African-American unemployment rate had risen from 13.5 to 13.7 percent, while the national employment rate had stayed even, at 7.6 percent.

Barbara Arnwine, president and executive director of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, said Friday that the unemployment problem was driven in part by employers who used credit checks in their hiring decisions.

"Credit checks have nothing to do with your ability to work," she argued. "Your credit is bad because you don't have a job."

MSNBC commentator and civil rights leader Rev. Al Sharpton argued that black Americans were facing higher unemployment rates because of where they work.

"Every since Obama has been in, there's been an increase in jobs in the private sector but black unemployment has increased. Why? Because we work in the public sector," he said.

In November, the National Urban League warned that the fiscal cliff would disproportionately affect African Americans because they make up a disproportionately large share of the public sector workforce.

A report from the left-leaning Economic Policy Institute added to the Urban League's fears, finding that the greater number of African Americans in the public sector had also meant higher rates of job loss during the economic recession.

But the Urban League said here it is determine to stem the tide of job losses. A jobs expo at the conference included hundreds of employers, including Target, CVS and UPS. The conference, which has the theme "jobs rebuild America," also hosted a career and networking fair, with sessions on how to pitch a personal brand or the art of the interview. And the majority of conference-goers showed up in business dress, a detail not lost on Vanesse Lloyd-Sgambati, a Philadelphia-based literary consultant attending the conference.

"If you notice how people are dressed, it's 8 a.m. in the morning and yet they're suited up, suited down, and ready for business," she said. "There are a lot of African American conferences around the country. But the National Urban League has said: 'This is what we are all about.'"

[chiefqc]

Jessie the mumbler, Al waiting to die and Eric the liar seem to be doing rather well for themselves.

Jessie’s son is going to prison, Al look like he is at deaths door and Eric gets a pass on going to prison.

What could we expect from mac daddies sock puppets?

[Cementjungle]

...African Americans because they make up a disproportionately large share of the public sector workforce

Yea, I've noticed that too... and yet you still complain about some imaginary "stacked deck".

[huckfillary]

As Thomas Sowell and Walter Williams have so often and so wisely offered this advice to young black males: stay in school, get a job, get married.

I don’t hear any of these race pimps offering such simple and sound advice.

[DoughtyOne]

I found myself in debt several times in my life. Once was my doing and the next was someone elses, who shall remain nameless. Once you’re in, it’s hard to get out.

If you’re not making that much money, it can be very hard to get out. You pay the minimums and eek out an existence. Then you lose your job, and for a while your credit takes a real hit.

Then as you say, you try to get a job, and the new supervisor has to run a credit check on you. So here you are trying to bail out, and they won’t let you have a job, because you need to bail yourself out.

This is pure insanity. How is a person who is down on their luck supposed to get back on track?

I honestly think mentoring is a way. I would like to see some middle income families develop a relationship with a family that’s doing their best to move up.

Personally, I think this would benefit the nation enormously.

One thing that has to happen in time, is Blacks and other lower income folks need to swear off crime. Clean up your neighborhood. I don’t care if you’ve got grass or not. I don’t care if you’ve got the best looking house. Just rake the yard. Leave the place looking meticulous. It really makes a difference.

Neighborhoods can look old, but still look like someone lives there who cares and has pride.

You start making your neighborhood look like that, and pretty soon small businesses move in, more jobs are available, and the area turns around.

Some of these communities are their own worst enemy. They make the place look blighted, then wonder why no businesses will move in.

[Uncle Chip]

Speaking of Carlos Dangler:

His Time Life Collection:

http://www.nbc.com/the-tonight-show/video/anthony-weiner-time-life-collection/n39374/

[Pining_4_TX]

Ha, ha, we have a winner!

[Pining_4_TX]

They do have one legitimate complaint, but the Jacksons and Sharptons of this world don’t care. Inner city blacks are trapped in horrible government schools. If these people really cared about the future of black children, they would find a way to get them into private schools.

[CT]

Hey Jessie, how's your gig workin' out? Net worth north of $30 million. Multiple girlfriends like FNC wench, Tamara Holder? I'd say that enough to get some new marbles for your mouth.

[DoughtyOne]

The problem is, the Left fights vouchers tooth and nail.  You can't have people fleeing union teachers, and keep your union members employed.

Keeping these kids ignorant, sets up a whole new generation of entitlement class.

FOLKS, THOSE OF YOU WHO CAN, PLEASE CLICK HERE AND PENCIL IN YOUR DONATION TO HELP END THIS FREEPATHON.  THANK YOU!
...this is a general all purpose message, and should not be seen as targeting any individual I am responding to...

[Catsrus]

Sad, but JJ is probably speaking the truth here. If he and the other race baiters would put as much energy into actually being a role model to young blacks, maybe they would see another way of life. Instead, they keep them on the plantation and stir up hatred.

[Minutemen]

Black America is largely unemployed, in debt and in prison......
Unlike fake charlatan reverends Jackson and Sharpton.

[Pining_4_TX]

Exactly. Democrats are such hypocrites. The rich ones send their kids to private schools while insisting the the horrible government school system be foisted on the poor.

[VerySadAmerican]

My wife is looking on Zillo for a place to move....probably Tennessee. She finds a decent house then goes to “street view” and it’s a slum. Or the entire town is one big crime wave. Once they start going downhill, it’s hard to stop sliding.

Then there are the towns being over run by muslims.

[DoughtyOne]

I agree.  Look at Obama's kids.  You think they're in public school?  LOL  LINK1  LINK2

BTW: Didn't mean to imply you thought they did.

FOLKS, THOSE OF YOU WHO CAN, PLEASE CLICK HERE AND PENCIL IN YOUR DONATION TO HELP END THIS FREEPATHON.  THANK YOU!
...this is a general all purpose message, and should not be seen as targeting any individual I am responding to...

[HANG THE EXPENSE]

Life’s tough.Its tougher when they’re stupid.What did they think they were going to get?

[DoughtyOne]

Some parts of Texas have great buys on property.  You can find a nice home for around $100k.

Down West of Atlanta there are some properties that are in that range.  We're talking a few acres plus 3-4 bedrooms, multi-story.  If you look around, you can find some great deals in some parts of the country.

You can retire from a big city, sell your home, and buy one outright back there and have a lot of cash left over.  Nice.

FOLKS, THOSE OF YOU WHO CAN, PLEASE CLICK HERE AND PENCIL IN YOUR DONATION TO HELP END THIS FREEPATHON.  THANK YOU!
...this is a general all purpose message, and should not be seen as targeting any individual I am responding to...

[Milton Miteybad]

Jesse Jackson: "And if you're someone looking for a job, stand," he said. Many more people tentatively raised their hands. "That's the state of black America," he said. "We are free but not equal. Free to be unemployed."

Uh...Reverend Jackson...if unemployment is such a huge issue for your client class here during the Obama Depression, why on earth would they be listening to a loser like you at some Urban League gathering, instead of pounding the pavement seeking opportunity?

You should quit wasting their time, Jesse. This is just one more area where you're sabotaging the fortunes of the people you claim to represent.

[boop]

That reminds me of Bonfire of the Vanities by Tom Wolfe, where he describes guys on trial for their life/freedom coming to court doing the "pimp roll".

Gotta "look cool" above everything else.

Even if it makes the judge/ jury dislike and distrust you immediately.

[uncitizen]

Reverend Jackson...if unemployment is such a huge issue for your client class here during the Obama Depression, why on earth would they be listening to a loser like you at some Urban League gathering, instead of pounding the pavement seeking opportunity?

good point.

[VerySadAmerican]

I live in a big Texas city. We’re wanting to get out of the city. Our home has just risen in value to what we owe on it. Houses are selling so good the value has gone up $3,000 in the past month. So, I don’t think we’ll have a problem selling it. But I don’t think we’re going to pocket a lot cash at closing.