Blacks used to dominate the masonry labor market with many blacks owing their own business and employing other blacks. Then the illegal aliens moved in and cheap contractors hired them for cash under the table, often at far lower wages than the black masons were priced out of the market.
That’s a fact. I had my roof raised in 2000—had a black guy and his sons, grandsons, even, come rebuild my chimney.
I had the same folks made a brick foundation for my in-laws doublewide back in 2006.
I wonder whether those guys are still in business?
Bingo! Illegal immigration has been the biggest thing ruining the job market for both black and white youngsters trying to make it in the trades. I am in Alabama. We are horse breeders. In the ‘80’s we built a concrete barn. Black masons did the work. Since then as time as gone on every project we have done has had less Americans and more latinos. It is hard to know if they are legal or not. I hate using them but if you have a small contractor doing work you are stuck. You just can’t find anyone that doesn’t use them.
Exactly!