Author Topic: 34.5 percent of young African American men are unemployed  (Read 2272 times)

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Offline bijou

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34.5 percent of young African American men are unemployed
« on: November 24, 2009, 10:52:34 AM »
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These days, 24-year-old Delonta Spriggs spends much of his time cooped up in his mother's one-bedroom apartment in Southwest Washington, the TV blaring soap operas hour after hour, trying to stay out of the streets and out of trouble, held captive by the economy. As a young black man, Spriggs belongs to a group that has been hit much harder than any other by unemployment.

Joblessness for 16-to-24-year-old black men has reached Great Depression proportions -- 34.5 percent in October, more than three times the rate for the general U.S. population. And last Friday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that unemployment in the District, home to many young black men, rose to 11.9 percent from 11.4 percent, even as it stayed relatively stable in Virginia and Maryland.

His work history, Spriggs says, has consisted of dead-end jobs. About a year ago, he lost his job moving office furniture, and he hasn't been able to find steady work since. This summer he completed a construction apprenticeship program, he says, seeking a career so he could avoid repeating the mistake of selling drugs to support his 3-year-old daughter. So far the most the training program has yielded was a temporary flagger job that lasted a few days.

"I think we're labeled for not wanting to do nothing -- knuckleheads or hardheads," said Spriggs, whose first name is pronounced Dee-lon-tay. "But all of us ain't bad."  ...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/23/AR2009112304092_pf.html



Offline Chris_

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Re: 34.5 percent of young African American men are unemployed
« Reply #1 on: November 24, 2009, 11:03:50 AM »
Perhaps the title should read 34.5% of young black males are unemployable

......no education

......no skills or discipline

......no work ethic

And a bad case of entitlement attitude........

Last time I checked, you could hop a Greyhound out of DC for a few bucks, and find someplace where jobs are available if none of the above apply.......

doc
If you want to worship an orange pile of garbage with a reckless disregard for everything, get on down to Arbys & try our loaded curly fries.

Offline Celtic Rose

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Re: 34.5 percent of young African American men are unemployed
« Reply #2 on: November 24, 2009, 11:06:08 AM »
This is what happens when we say that it is okay to have low expectations for African-Americans, because they have been oppressed.  This is what happens when their culture glorifies "gangsta" living.

This is why a school voucher program is so important.  We need to make it possible for children to get out of the inner city schools and their low expectations, so that statistics can be changed for future generations.

Offline Doc

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Re: 34.5 percent of young African American men are unemployed
« Reply #3 on: November 24, 2009, 11:15:21 AM »
This is what happens when we say that it is okay to have low expectations for African-Americans, because they have been oppressed.  This is what happens when their culture glorifies "gangsta" living.

This is why a school voucher program is so important.  We need to make it possible for children to get out of the inner city schools and their low expectations, so that statistics can be changed for future generations.

I think that is only a small part of it.....I have known and employed black workers that have come from inner city public school backgrounds, that are excellent workers, and highly motivated to overcome their early deficiencies......but to a man, they want to succeed........it is far easier to stand around on a street corner, and buy into the hype that you are an oppressed minority, than it is to get your ass on that bus.....and do something about it.

doc
« Last Edit: November 24, 2009, 11:18:24 AM by TVDOC »

Offline Splashdown

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Re: 34.5 percent of young African American men are unemployed
« Reply #4 on: November 24, 2009, 11:21:01 AM »
...and 90 percent of that demographic that votes will vote democrat.  :banghead:
Let nothing trouble you,
Let nothing frighten you. 
All things are passing;
God never changes.
Patience attains all that it strives for.
He who has God lacks nothing:
God alone suffices.
--St. Theresa of Avila



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Offline thundley4

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Re: 34.5 percent of young African American men are unemployed
« Reply #5 on: November 24, 2009, 11:30:10 AM »
Thank goodness for those that are  "employed" by/in prisons and jails or the rate would be really high.

Offline Chris_

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Re: 34.5 percent of young African American men are unemployed
« Reply #6 on: November 24, 2009, 11:35:42 AM »
...and 90 percent of that demographic that votes will vote democrat.  :banghead:

Closer to 97%......

doc
If you want to worship an orange pile of garbage with a reckless disregard for everything, get on down to Arbys & try our loaded curly fries.

Offline Hawkgirl

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Re: 34.5 percent of young African American men are unemployed
« Reply #7 on: November 30, 2009, 09:04:40 PM »
 :racist:

Offline GOBUCKS

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Re: 34.5 percent of young African American men are unemployed
« Reply #8 on: November 30, 2009, 10:07:44 PM »
They're not unemployed. They're "keepin' it real".

Offline whiffleball

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Re: 34.5 percent of young African American men are unemployed
« Reply #9 on: December 01, 2009, 06:05:56 AM »

it is far easier to stand around on a street corner, and buy into the hype that you are an oppressed minority, than it is to get your ass on that bus.....and do something about it.


My grandparents fed men who passed through their area looking for work during the Great Depression.  I, myself, have moved several times in my life for employment.  You must put effort into bettering yourself; you don't wait for someone to do it for you.

Offline rich_t

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Re: 34.5 percent of young African American men are unemployed
« Reply #10 on: December 01, 2009, 04:58:43 PM »
^^ Exactly
"The American people will never knowingly adopt socialism. But, under the name of 'liberalism,' they will adopt every fragment of the socialist program, until one day America will be a socialist nation, without knowing how it happened." --Norman Thomas, 1944