Culture/Economy, Economy/Culture: NYT Comments On Unemployment Rate For NYC's Young Black Male Population

It's all so politely phrased, but it sets OS's hair on fire to read it.

The report, written by Michelle Holder, a labor market analyst with the Community Service Society, noted that during the recession that began in December 2007, working-age black men suffered an especially large increase of unemployment. The jobless rate for that group jumped to 17.9 percent in 2009 from 9 percent in 2006. Among young men of all races, age 16 to 24, the overall jobless rate rose to 24.6 percent during the recession.

The report, entitled “Unemployment in New York City During the Recession and Early Recovery,” noted that the jobless rate for Hispanic men, age 16 to 24, rose to 24.7 percent during the recession, while their labor force participation rate was 42 percent. For all men age 16 to 24 in New York City, the jobless rate was 22.4 percent during the period studied, while the labor force participation rate was 42 percent. According to the report, women with less than a high school diploma had the lowest labor force participation rate of any group: 28 percent.

The group with the lowest jobless rate during the recession and the early part of the recovery — the recession ended in June 2009 — was Asian women, age 55 to 64. Their unemployment rate in 2009 was 4.5 percent, the report found.

The crucial bit for OS is that 'participation rate'. If 42 percent are 'participating', i.e. employed or actively in the system seeking employment, then 58 percent are off the radar. They don't have enough hope or belief in the future to participate in the above-ground economy or culture.

Contrast with the Asian women 55-64 stat.

This is not a racist rant, not at all. The difference in culture, expectations, family dynamics, etc. impact these numbers so strongly. It isn't that people with black skin or hispanic heritage are inherently incapable--but something happened along the way, and amongst their young men, the level of belief in the future has faded away.

So, where are they? Where do they go? What do they do? What does the future look like for them?

What should we be doing about this? Whatever we've done to date hasn't worked, so please--no more rants from the Left about how we should just throw more money in the direction of the NEA and Urban League.

Home Again, Thursday Evening Return From Louisville

Several happy days spent in Louisville, still a favorite town in OS's travels. He met up with friends from around the Midwest, each with a tale to tell, but the specifics will be scrubbed here sufficiently to grant them their deserved privacy.

Things in general don't seem as depressed there as on previous visits, which is welcome news. OS is not one of these guys who wishes to emulate Jonah, who preached
'The End Is Near', was heeded, and his listeners were spared. He then was cheesed off at the Almighty for not raining fire down upon the former infidels anyway, and ended up with some 'Splainin-To-Do-Lucy to his Maker.

When things improve, OS is genuinely happy. Restaurants had diners, even if they weren't jammed. Stores had shoppers, even if the parking lots weren't filled. The airport parking lot was well-filled. And the mood in general seemed more upbeat.

Ford Motor's survival and re-emergence will result in retooling of one of its manufacturing facilities in Louisville early next year, which is most welcome news to a city that lives off its factories.

A much-needed bridge just upriver from Louisville may well be built, funded by tolls imposed on commuter traffic across the other bridges. So, some good things appear to be in the offing.

The friends had interesting tales to share. One lives in a small Midwestern town that is working heroically to maintain good schools, churches, and civic life. He runs a still-surviving small business, but his has always been a two-income household by necessity, with kids to raise and educate. His wife is very qualified in her industry's fields of expertise, but the jobs (or rather the firms that could make use of her gifts) have just simply vanished or operate as shells of their former selves. She is one of the 99-ers, the final unemployment check came this week, and as he talked, I saw some real fear in his eyes. Never had seen that in him in all these years. Certainly not despairing, but fear has crept in, a new experience in his life. OS passed on a second-hand job lead, but it would put the spouse in another city, six hours away from the family. She's willing to do that, if that is what is required. No whining, mind you.

Another friend works with an endowment fund that does significantly good things. She reports that the fund principal was really hammered; and with the subsequent crushing of interest rates by Zimbabwe Ben, there is only half the previous income to work with, and it's becoming tough to do some of the things for which the endowment was established. The New Normal. No despair, but a grim sense of 'We're just going to have to get through this, and keep our chins up.'

OS is helping revise a vita for another friend who got caught in the political undertow at his downsizing firm. A brilliant gent who never expected to have to do this at this point of his career. The New Normal. Again, no despair, but a real sense of loss to contend with as he forges on to his new and unexpected life.

The trip out of town took a while to complete, working around the traffic. OS decided to escape southward on the Preston Highway, through the outer southern 'burbs. It was sobering to drive by the large trailer parks. Things have not been going well, and the folks there, by definition, live on the edge of the economy and culture. What happens if, Heaven forbid, things take another serious downturn? What will The New Normal look like for them? Same experience driving much of the trip home on the old 31-W. The little towns are looking even shabbier than this time last year, and they weren't doing well then.

Not despairing, not fearing, but a bit worried. What are we prepared to do to aid people so much less fortunate if the ReallyBadStuff some predict begins to happen?
The folks in the trailer parks are not a rabble. They are people, with bodies and souls.