There wasn't a great deal of news to celebrate when the latest jobs numbers were released just after the 4th of July holiday, but for African-Americans the news was particularly grim. While overall unemployment continues to hover around 8.2 percent, among African-Americans the number increased from an already discouraging 13.6 percent in May, to an alarming 14.4 percent. These numbers are not only cause for concern for those Americans currently out of work, but for the White House. No incumbent president has been re-elected with an unemployment rate above 7.2 percent.
While the Obama administration has some time before the November election, it does not have much, particularly in terms of black Americans, which presents a potential landmine for the Obama campaign. Black voters were crucial to President Obama's election in 2008, with black women representing the highest turnout of any demographic for the first time in history. Black voters made the difference in key swing states like North Carolina, Virginia, Ohio and Indiana. Now a landmark coalition of black civic, entertainment and media organizations are partnering on a poll to examine the impact of the current economic climate, and other hot button issues, on likely minority voter turnout.
Led for the second year by Loop21.com, one of the fastest growing minority digital outlets in the country, the coalition seeks to engage its membership and grassroots networks in mounting one of the largest national surveys ever to poll the political attitudes and engagement of black Americans. The State of the Black Economy (SOBE) survey will be distributed by a coalition that includes:
HuffPost BlackVoices
NewsOne
LA Urban League Young Professionals
National Bar Association
National Black Law Students Association
National Black MBA - NY Chapter
National Black MBA - Dallas Chapter
National Black MBA - Miami Chapter
National Action Network
Rising Affluent
Young Professionals United for Change
The Boss Network
Unity Journalists
Women in Entertainment Empowerment Network
AMighty River
The survey will go live Monday, July 9, 2012 and conclude Friday, July 27, with early results available Monday, August 6, and final results available to the public Wednesday, August 8. The research will be helmed by former Gallup pollster David C. Wilson, Ph.D. The poll was conceived by Loop21 publisher, and nationally recognized economist, Darrell Williams, Ph.D. after growing frustration with the underrepresentation of minorities in traditional polling samples. "In our multicultural society, we should evaluate the strength of the U.S. economy based on the economic well being of all its citizens not just some," Williams said. "But we can only do that if we fully engage all Americans in research efforts, and that often isn't done in polling and we hope to change that."
For more information on taking or distributing the SOBE Survey please check it out here.
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Rev. Jesse Jackson: Put U.S. Jobs Above D.C. Partisanship
Oh, ... wait ... you don't speak for me!
Talk about lucky.
Voter ID laws in a number of states are targeting African-Americans. Even with a so-called Voter ID card, local officials have the freedom to declare any person's ID as invalid. So this year a lot of African-Americans may be denied their constitutionally-guaranteed right to vote.
The GOP wants to eliminate all Civil Rights laws, including the Voters' Right Act of 1965. The Voter ID is just a thinly-disguised version of the Poll tax.
As a white guy, I certainly will not vote GOP simply because I don't want to go back to the bad old days. African-Americans need to recognize that if the GOP wins, they will lose everything.
Support President Obama in his re-election, or accept an American Caste system.
Nothing Mitt Romney has embraced would improve the plight of the unemployed, minorities or the poor.
We never had a self admitted American Black POTUS and Congress who did all they could to thwart economic growth in our country because they want to "Make Obama a One Term President" even if it means destroying America.That makes a huge difference and Americans are aware of this. It's telling when some folks think their power will erode they will sink to all lengths to keep it. This is what this about one segment of Americans believe if this President succeed they will no have the power and use the age old tools they've used to keep it. I don't believe the American people are stupid enough to fall for the GOP/Tea Bagger/Conservative shenanigans. Not any POTUS can sign a Jobs Bilk that Congress does not pass and send to him. The ball is and remains in Congress court, not President Obama. SOH Boehner where is the JOBS,JOBS, JOBS Bill that he promised to the American people back in 2010. We're still waiting....
Dem-controlled Senate has refused to take up, debate, and hold votes on.---
Because those Bills had amendments to deny women the Right of choice and to end abortion.If Speaker Boehner wanted to pass a JOBS Bill he could have his members vote on a CLEAN JOBS Bills that the Senate would pass tomorrow and President Obama would sign the next day. Your attempt wasn't a nice try or attempt SOH John Boehner the most Failed Speaker of the House in American history is also a liar. Just like presumed GOP/Tea Bagger Presidential nominee Flip-Flop Mitt Romney. Care to try again.
You can take the poll over and over again; and so, since question #12 reads as follows:
12. Of the following, how much is each to blame for the current US economic crisis?
Mostly Responsible Somewhat Responsible Not Responsible
President Obama
President Bush
Congress
Wall Street
It's very obvious who is the driving force behind these questions.
Yet the countries first "Black President" has spit in our face by giving ILLEGAL 16-30 year olds the ability to TAKE the few jobs that are out there. Making Black unemployment even worse. What is the difference between Obama and Romney? Well one thing we now KNOW for sure is that Obama can care less about us.
"D.C. Council member Catania comes up with $20M for health coverage for illegal immigrants.... But the council would be restoring the health insurance program at the same time it is scaling back other government services, including millions in services for the poor…." http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/dc-council-member-catania-comes-up-with-20m-for-health-coverage-for-illegal-immigrants/2012/05/03/gIQAkUdezT_story.html
All the freebies and jobs that Obama and the Dems are serving up to the foreign nationals here illegally are coming right out of the services and jobs that should be going to the middle class, working poor, and poor people. It's not the rich who are paying the price for all the jobs, college tuition breaks, public school funding siphoned off, and the rest. The huge costs, including substantial opportunity costs in addition to direct financial costs, fall squarely on the 99% (and disproportionately on the poor and minorities) - we're paying the bills for Dem politicians to pander to a special interest group made up mostly of foreign nationals here illegally.