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Black Unemployment Drops to 15.5 Percent

The black unemployment rate dropped to 15.5 percent in May, down from 16.5 percent in April.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the economy added 431,000 new jobs, 411,000 of which were temporary Census jobs.

The private sector added only 41,000 jobs last month, below expectations and far less than the number needed just to keep pace with population growth.

Still, President Barack Obama hailed the jobs report:

Now, this is the fifth month in a row that we’ve seen job gains. And while we recognize that our recovery is still in its early stages and that there are going to be ups and downs in the months ahead -- things never go completely in a smooth line -- this report is a sign that our economy is getting stronger by the day.

Congressional Black Caucus Chair Barbara Lee sees the glass as half empty:

Today’s report that the economy added 431,000 jobs is a clear sign that our economy is on the road to recovery, but with unemployment at 9.7 percent there remains work to do.

While it is heartening to see the unemployment rate for African Americans drop a full percentage point, 15.5 percent is still an unacceptably high figure and considerably more than the overall unemployment rate. Teen unemployment edged up slightly to 26.4 percent overall, with the rates of unemployment for African American and Latino teens at 38 and 28.6 percent, respectively.

These figures reinforce the continued need for direct job creation to ensure that those Americans who are hurting the most get the help they need.

The CBC called on the Senate to pass the American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act, which includes $1 billion for a summer youth jobs program.

For more info, check out the National Urban League’s State of Urban Jobs.

Census Home Visits

The Census Bureau reports more than 72 percent of the nation’s households mailed back their census form. Census Bureau Director Robert Groves wrote:

This only marks the half way point for the 2010 Census. There is much hard work ahead to follow up on the approximately 48 million households that did not mail back a form, and risks remain. We need to continue to have the public’s cooperation to reach our final goal of a complete and accurate count of every person in the country.

In the coming weeks, census takers will make as many as six attempts per at each housing unit address to count possible residents.

Go here for information on what to do when a census taker knocks on your door.

And whatever you do, open the door. It’s required by law.

Measuring the Movement

I attended the first day of the National Action Network’s 2010 convention. I had a conflict and was unable to attend the national leadership forum, “Measuring the Movement,” which moderator Roland Martin described as a “live working session.”

Fortunately, TV One re-aired the broadcast. So I was able to hear firsthand what was said. And they said a lot.

I listened as leader after leader pledged their commitment to a 12-month action plan. Some pledges are more specific and measurable than others.

Ben Jealous said the NAACP will increase the participation of African Americans in the census by five percent.

Marc Morial said the National Urban League will assist 10,000 people find employment in the next 12 months, expand job training for the formerly incarcerated, and add 10 to 15 sites for the League’s Education and Youth Empowerment Program.

Sharpton outlined the National Action Network’s three-point plan:

• Boost black voter registration and turnout by five percent in California, Florida, Illinois, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania.
• Push for federal, state and local agencies to increase deposits in black banks.
• Close the academic achievement gap.

On his radio show, “Hour of Power,” Sharpton touted the success of the forum but noted:

The success will be when we implement what we outlined. It’s about action …The real challenge is the work. What are we going to do? ... That is the measure of the success, or the lack of success, of the convention.

Sharpton added:

The time for talk is over. It’s time to walk the walk. Nobody cares when you’re upset. They care when you organize.

[…]

It is time for everyone to really stop and assess, this is what I’m committed to do over the next 90 days, six months and year.

Martin pledged to hold the leaders accountable:

We are going to hold people accountable. We will go back to them every three months and ask “what have you done?” Everyone has a role to play.

And everyone includes the person in the mirror. Yes, you.

Host Tom Joyner wrote:

Okay, you heard it. We are going to hold these panelists accountable for the commitments they made. We’re going to do our part on the Tom Joyner Morning Show. But I need you to hold us to it! And ask yourself what Roland just did: What are YOU prepared to do?

Joyner invited viewers to send their action plan to: [email protected].

Here’s what I plan to do: I am committed to accountability reporting. So I will post the pledges on Tracking Change Wiki, and track and visualize the organizations’ progress in achieving their goals.

Data-driven measures of accountability will foster a new paradigm of civic engagement and black leadership that moves beyond folks sitting on their rusty-dusty and complaining about what others are not doing.

Yes, we must hold President Obama accountable. At the same time, we must hold all elected officials and black leaders accountable.

As for politicians who want our votes, Danny Bakewell Sr., president of the National Newspaper Publishers Association, is spot-on:

We need people to deliver for us. If you deliver for us, we’ll deliver for you. If you don’t deliver for us, we ain’t doing nothing.

Census Countdown

Your completed census form should be in the mail.

So far, 67 percent have mailed back their form.

Though Republicans have talked a lot of census nonsense, they are being counted. The hard-to-count includes minorities and hipsters in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

Many Americans have tuned out the Census ads. But an accurate count is important to ensure that your community receives its fair share of the more than $400 billion in federal dollars for schools, hospitals and transportation projects.

An accurate count is also about political representation.

So make sure you are counted. If you have not received a census form in the mail, you can pick up a Be Counted form at any Questionnaire Assistance Center. To find the nearest location, go here.

For telephone assistance, call 1-866-872-686.

If you want to keep a census taker from knocking at your door, mail your census form back by April 16.

Census Day

Today’s the official day to fill out your census form. Already, 52 percent of U.S. residents have mailed their form back.

Sure, the form includes the word “Negro,” but Census Bureau Director Robert Groves has apologized “on behalf of all my colleagues.”

An accurate count is important. It’s about the money:

The accuracy of the 2010 Census will determine the geographic distribution of a substantial proportion of federal assistance, particularly in the form of grants, over the coming decade. In FY2008, 215 federal domestic assistance programs used census-related data to guide the distribution of $446.7 billion, 31 percent of all federal assistance. Census-guided grants accounted for $419.8 billion, 75 percent of all federal grant funding.

The bulk of census-guided federal assistance goes to state governments through a handful of large formula grant programs to aid low-income households and support highway infrastructure. Medicaid alone accounts for 58 percent of census-guided funding. In general,census-guided funding is highly concentrated in a small number of programs,recipients states), departments, and budget functions.

So if you want to ensure your community gets its fair share of federal assistance, none of that “crazy hand jive.” Mail your form back.

Census 2010: Take Ten Minutes

It’s no joke. April 1 is Census Day.

As of March 25, the national participation rate is 20 percent. To check the participation rate in your community, go here.

Your census form should be in the mail so be on the lookout. If you haven’t received it by April 12, call the Telephone Questionnaire Assistance Center.

Census 2010, it's in our hands.

More GOP Census Nonsense

Stupid is as stupid does. And some members of the Stupid Party are, well, stuck on stupid.

First, there was the nonsensical Vitter/Bennett Amendment, which would toss out the Census count of illegal immigrants for the purposes of Congressional reapportionment. Sure, they are residing illegally inside the states, but the Constitution does not distinguish between legal and illegal residents.

Article I, Section 2 mandates that an “actual enumeration” of the populations of the states be taken every 10 years, period.

Now, the Georgia Republican Party has sent out a political mailer disguised as an official Census survey (h/t Think Progress). The mailer sows confusion and will likely increase the non-response rate.

Given that the hard-to-count population tends to vote for Democrats, perhaps Republicans are not so stupid after all.

To preview the 2010 Census form, go here.