CBC kicks off jobs initiative; claims U6 unemployment rate for blacks at 33%

Celebrating its 40th year, the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) is slated to begin a jobs initiative tour on August 8 through August 31, 2011. The CBC has a lofty goal of trying to implement its mission of getting 10,000 people hired by corporations over a five city area in 24 days.

Chairman Emanuel Cleaver II (D-Missouri) said in a recent MSNBC interview that during the present legislative session, "The Congressional Black Caucus has introduced 40 pieces of legislation to deal with jobs," and will start its jobs fair tour beginning in Cleveland, Ohio and ending in Los Angeles, Calif. Other cities listed on the tour are Detroit, Atlanta, and Miami although Atlanta is omitted and Chicago added on its online registration form.

Speaking of unemployment in the African American community, "It is so bad that I think it merits the president and Congress declaring that this is a national emergency, and if that doesn't happen and happen quickly, I think we're going to look at a situation where African Americans are actually going to begin to move backwards," he said.

Cleaver said the real unemployment figures for African Americans is 33% and includes those who are on unemployment rolls as well as those who have given up finding a job, are underemployed, or working part-time. "If this continues, if this unemployment continues, this drop out rate continues, I'm looking for some serious problems down the road."

The CBC is partnering with major corporations to put people back to work, especially African Americans and others from census tracts which have been impoverished for over 30 years.

To learn more about the CBC and its jobs initiative, go to: http://thecongressionalblackcaucus.com/.

©2011 Tomi Johnson. All rights reserved.