Obama news conference: What can be done about black unemployment?

The next question is about the recession’s effect on minority communities. The reporter notes that in New York City, the rate of unemployment for black men is near 50%.

 “Given this unique and desperate circumstance,” asks the reporter, “what specific policies can you point to and what’s a timetable for us to see tangible results?”

Naturally, this is an impossible question to answer. The president already pointed out in an earlier answer that he does not possess a crystal ball (we knew that).

In his answer, he does what he sometimes does on the public stage—he refuses to engage specifically on the plight of African Americans, but relates the question to everyone who is underprivileged or disproportionately affected by the downturn.

 “Every step we are taking is designed to help all people,” says Obama, though he acknowledges that the “African American community and the Latino community are probably disproportionately represented” in the ranks of the unemployed and uninsured.

 “My general approach,” he says, “is if the economy is strong, that will lift all boats, as long as it is supported by strategies around college affordability, job training, tax cuts for working families, as opposed to the wealthiest families.”

Policies, he says, “that level the economic playing field” are the key.

-- Robin Abcarian

We go inside politics every day. Come along with us. Click here to register for automatic Twitter alerts of each new Ticket item. Or follow us   @latimestot

Photo: Gerald Herbert / Associated Press

Comments

[none]

Maybe there should be some type of action that is taken that relaxes the requirements for minorities in relation to higher education, compounded by special business incentives that allow minorities to open businesses with government loans and grants - and - then allow them to compete on government contracts with preferences given by the government.

[alan scouten]

"Probably disproportionately represented"?????

This is just trickle-down thinking redux.
Boats filled with holes and without engines may float-barely, but will remain adrift and at the mercy of the Winds of Power.

"Money and Power are Beautiful" (CNBC today)

I remember when the slogan was "Black is Beautiful."

[steve rodriguez]

If you don't have a job who cares what color you are?

[Mr.J.]

That [reporter's] question was too loaded w/ racial (read: Black) focus for President Obama to embrace and speak affirmatively on. The reporter must not have gotten the memo: Mr. Obama, as he did during the campaign, has to avoid being perceived as catering to his own racail group, to keep non-Black americans "comfortable" w/ his presidency - hence his deflective words of "ALL people" and "ALL boats". Under the prevailing powers of this nation, Pres. Obama's administration has to be more COVERT in it's benefits to Black-Americans, rather than OVERT. When will people learn that Presidents are figure-heads and politics ain't what it appeas to be.

[Mike]

Obama should have answered the question on more a community service aspect. Like "encouraging people in those communities to band together to invest and product products to create employment with some goverment help. But the "strong tide lifts all boats" is only a half truth in my opinion.

[Vanshe]

I am alarmed at the rate of unemployment in black communities. I am recently unemployed, college and graduate school educated. I am getting the feeling that there is Obama backlash in the workplace. I was recently laid off from a teaching job in public school as were other black and latinos. What gets me the most - is that I was expected not to have too high "expectations" of my students - a large portion of whom were black. What are we doing to (in) black America? The jobless rates are high, we can't have expectations of (majority black) students, and everything is supposed to be cool. Things don't seem to change in America - I know there are whites suffering but entire black communities - post civil rights, can't we all get along - still have the same problems. Wait till all of the soldiers come back. Then we will really see serious unemployment. And, who stole the money??????