Black people are unemployed! 

According to new statistics (or rather, not so new statistics) the unemployment rate for Black Americans is disproportionally high- about 16.5% of us are unemployed-- almost twice that of our white counterparts. What an encouraging statistic...

What is a black person to do? We make headline news for the bad, the ugly, and the devastating. I find it quite interesting that, when speaking about American statistics, White Americans are only singled out as such when other races are being compared to them. You never see an article highlighting that X percentage of White Americans are unemployed, homeless, or below the poverty line unless they are in direct comparison with another race (because it is when compared to the 'lesser man' that White Americans appear superior). There are never headline stories discussing the hardships of White America-the only races that the media choose to single out are those considered 'minorities' (blacks, latinos, asians, etc.) and usually their 'minority' of choice are Black Americans.

I can just about guarantee that you will never find a news article entitled "White Family Woes- The Hardships of Being Unemployed in the White Community" as this title suggests the specification of a PROBLEM within the white community. Instead, you are more likely to see an article entitled "America's Problem- Unemployment Rates at an All Time High" in which general unemployment rates would be provided without specifically indicating anything negative about White America. On the other hand, you are almost certain to find news articles such as "'Vicious Cycle': Jobless and in black america' (CNN.com) because the media has no problem pointing out issues within and specific to the black community.

There was a time when the media did not report on Black American issues unless they revolved around crime or a threat to the White Community. Now it seems like every media outlet is constantly reporting about us--as long as the reporting can remain negative and point to what we lack rather than what we have. We have prominent black political and social figures who are debating over President Obama and his need/no need for a black agenda, while the media is literally ripping our community to shreds. Instead of arguing over President Obama our political and social representation should be fighting to protect the image of Black America. 

I have no problem with reports about our high unemployment rates or our single women if the reporting can be balanced with stories about the high number of black women graduating from college or the progress black people are making in Corporate America. In addition, if I have to hear about hardships specific to the black or latino/hispanic community, I would also like to hear about the hardships in the white community as well.

Minorities are not the only ones who are struggling during our current financial crisis. This is a national problem so there is no need to draw attention to one race over another. Right now EVERYBODY is struggling to make ends meet. Telling me that the unemployment rate for blacks is almost twice that of whites is pretty irrelevant--especially since the unemployment rates of blacks has always been extremely high in comparison to whites.

I am perplexed as to why America would go through all the trouble (and yes, it was trouble) of electing a black man into the White House, with a black wife and black children, if their ultimate goal was to destroy our image. Make us look good then shoot us down to the ground? Was that the plan?

At some point the black community is going to have to stand up for itself and decide what the media can and cannot report about us. It is not a coincidence that the media will not write disparaging articles specifically about the White Community. They won’t write these articles or report such stories because White America won’t let them. We too can dictate what is to be reported about us. As a unit we can do anything. It’s just a matter of coming together and fighting for ourselves and our community. 

Are you willing to fight? I know I am…

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I was just reading an article about a 17 year old Ugandan king. The article was interesting and for some reason it made me think of Prince Akeem and King Jaffe Jopher in Zamunda (Coming to America). J That movie is so funny…

In the article Professor Ndebesa Mwambutsya, a History professor at Makerere University in Kampala said something that was really interesting. He was responding to the idea that that monarchs are a possible set back for national integration. This is what he said…

"Ugandans identify themselves first with their tribes and kingdoms, then as citizens." "This works in most African cultures because people have lost faith in the government, and tribes and kingdoms provide a nucleus around which an identity can be forged."

This made me think of people of color in America. We are more likely to rep our "set" or our skin color before we would ever think of announcing our American nationality. Yet those of "less color" are more likely to rep their nationality rather than their skin color or their "set"; that is, if they even have anything that could remotely be considered a "set".

For instance, if you are in Delaware and you ask me where I am from, my first instinct would be to reply, "Northside." Now, granted, if I am in a different state or a different country I would most likely respond differently but you get my drift.

In addition, if someone were to ask "What are you?" my response would probably be something like this… (with a quizzical facial expression since it is quite bizarre for someone to just randomly ask such a question)  

"I am black….and female."

And I could see a Dominican-American man (born and raised in America) responding something like this…

"I am Dominican."

Yet, I could see a Caucasian responding like this…

"I am American."

Now I could be wrong but this is just how I see things. I just think its interesting how people of color are usually the ones talking about what street they are from or what set they rep but Caucasians don't. Maybe it's in our DNA to associate with a sub-society within a larger society. Just like Professor Mwambutsya says, in Africa people usually identify with their tribe (sub-society) before their country (larger society). I guess in America, there is really only a larger society (America) and no real sub-societies. So we had to create our own…

Professor Mwambutsya also said,

Finding a balance between national unity and tradition can be a challenge...

"It's a paradox in itself. It is important that African culture is preserved because a people without culture is like groping in the darkness," he says.

This is even more interesting because often, people of color could care less about being American, not unless they are outside of America and need to assert their land of origin. I can't even remember the last time I stated "I am American." I really can't…but you better believe that I can remember the last time I said "I'm from 2-4" or "I'm from Northside" or "I'm black." Maybe this also has something to do with America being the strong-armed bully that she is where everything is judged based upon her standards so everyone already knows that I'm American…or maybe it has something to do with the fact that I am in America so there is no need to say that I am American…I don't know.  

The last part of Professor Mwambutsya statement is worth thinking about as well. "a people without culture is like groping in the darkness." Hmmmm, makes me wonder…am I in the darkness or in the light?

If you want to read the article about the 17- year old king, as "he bobs his head to rapper Jay-Z," check it here.

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