Comments on: Depression 2.0 Hits Young African-Americans…Hardcore http://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/2009/11/depression-2-0-hits-young-african-americans-hardcore/ A black bourgeoisie perspective on U.S. politics Fri, 10 Feb 2012 19:13:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: property and casualty insurance companyhttp://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/2009/11/depression-2-0-hits-young-african-americans-hardcore/comment-page-1/#comment-582567 property and casualty insurance company Sun, 19 Jun 2011 15:27:48 +0000 http://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/?p=17651#comment-582567 <strong>Great Site…...</strong>[...]check this out as this contains important information about[...]... Great Site……

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]]> By: RobMhttp://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/2009/11/depression-2-0-hits-young-african-americans-hardcore/comment-page-1/#comment-333712 RobM Thu, 26 Nov 2009 21:03:02 +0000 http://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/?p=17651#comment-333712 I have heard of the attempt to pass a healthcare reform bill. I would like to remind you I posted about accomplishments. Unless the rules have changed both Houses of Congress have to pass a unified bill and then the President has to sign it for it to go into law. Unless they have changed the rules you are counting your chickens before they hatch and considering it an accomplishment. I have heard of the attempt to pass a healthcare reform bill. I would like to remind you I posted about accomplishments. Unless the rules have changed both Houses of Congress have to pass a unified bill and then the President has to sign it for it to go into law. Unless they have changed the rules you are counting your chickens before they hatch and considering it an accomplishment.

]]> By: Plantsmantxhttp://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/2009/11/depression-2-0-hits-young-african-americans-hardcore/comment-page-1/#comment-333713 Plantsmantx Thu, 26 Nov 2009 20:27:52 +0000 http://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/?p=17651#comment-333713 I seem to type this a lot, but...it's not an either or/situation. We can and should do all those things you list, and things would get better. Now, what about the discrimination that is encountered after all those people do all those things? Just let it go? Act as if it doesn't exist, or is negligible? It's not negligible now, and it wouldn't be if all those dysfunctions didn't exist. It would still occur often enough to be a huge problem. That's been proven time and time again, both anecdotally and through studies. We can't just run away from it or blame ourselves for it. And you know, it's not as if we're concentrating on discrimination at the expense of "self-help", either. We bitch and vent about it, but as a practical matter, only a tiny percentage of blacks who experience it actually do something about it. Those other people (and some of us) like to complain about <i>us</i> constantly complaining about discrimination, but we really don't, in the way that counts...formally. There should be a whole lot more formal complaints about racial discrimination.<br><br>I first heard the phrase "shift the focus" as applied to black politics from the black conservatives who suddenly popped up in the media after Reagan's election. I said then, and I say now that it's a matter of widening the focus, not shifting it. I seem to type this a lot, but…it's not an either or/situation. We can and should do all those things you list, and things would get better. Now, what about the discrimination that is encountered after all those people do all those things? Just let it go? Act as if it doesn't exist, or is negligible? It's not negligible now, and it wouldn't be if all those dysfunctions didn't exist. It would still occur often enough to be a huge problem. That's been proven time and time again, both anecdotally and through studies. We can't just run away from it or blame ourselves for it. And you know, it's not as if we're concentrating on discrimination at the expense of “self-help”, either. We bitch and vent about it, but as a practical matter, only a tiny percentage of blacks who experience it actually do something about it. Those other people (and some of us) like to complain about us constantly complaining about discrimination, but we really don't, in the way that counts…formally. There should be a whole lot more formal complaints about racial discrimination.

I first heard the phrase “shift the focus” as applied to black politics from the black conservatives who suddenly popped up in the media after Reagan's election. I said then, and I say now that it's a matter of widening the focus, not shifting it.

]]> By: RobMhttp://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/2009/11/depression-2-0-hits-young-african-americans-hardcore/comment-page-1/#comment-316292 RobM Thu, 26 Nov 2009 16:03:02 +0000 http://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/?p=17651#comment-316292 I have heard of the attempt to pass a healthcare reform bill. I would like to remind you I posted about accomplishments. Unless the rules have changed both Houses of Congress have to pass a unified bill and then the President has to sign it for it to go into law. Unless they have changed the rules you are counting your chickens before they hatch and considering it an accomplishment. I have heard of the attempt to pass a healthcare reform bill. I would like to remind you I posted about accomplishments. Unless the rules have changed both Houses of Congress have to pass a unified bill and then the President has to sign it for it to go into law. Unless they have changed the rules you are counting your chickens before they hatch and considering it an accomplishment.

]]> By: Plantsmantxhttp://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/2009/11/depression-2-0-hits-young-african-americans-hardcore/comment-page-1/#comment-316271 Plantsmantx Thu, 26 Nov 2009 15:27:52 +0000 http://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/?p=17651#comment-316271 I seem to type this a lot, but...it's not an either or/situation. We can and should do all those things you list, and things would get better. Now, what about the discrimination that is encountered after all those people do all those things? Just let it go? Act as if it doesn't exist, or is negligible? It's not negligible now, and it wouldn't be if all those dysfunctions didn't exist. It would still occur often enough to be a huge problem. That's been proven time and time again, both anecdotally and through studies. We can't just run away from it or blame ourselves for it. And you know, it's not as if we're concentrating on discrimination at the expense of "self-help", either. We bitch and vent about it, but as a practical matter, only a tiny percentage of blacks who experience it actually do something about it. Those other people (and some of us) like to complain about <i>us</i> constantly complaining about discrimination, but we really don't, in the way that counts...formally. There should be a whole lot more formal complaints about racial discrimination.<br><br>I first heard the phrase "shift the focus" as applied to black politics from the black conservatives who suddenly popped up in the media after Reagan's election. I said then, and I say now that it's a matter of widening the focus, not shifting it. I seem to type this a lot, but…it's not an either or/situation. We can and should do all those things you list, and things would get better. Now, what about the discrimination that is encountered after all those people do all those things? Just let it go? Act as if it doesn't exist, or is negligible? It's not negligible now, and it wouldn't be if all those dysfunctions didn't exist. It would still occur often enough to be a huge problem. That's been proven time and time again, both anecdotally and through studies. We can't just run away from it or blame ourselves for it. And you know, it's not as if we're concentrating on discrimination at the expense of “self-help”, either. We bitch and vent about it, but as a practical matter, only a tiny percentage of blacks who experience it actually do something about it. Those other people (and some of us) like to complain about us constantly complaining about discrimination, but we really don't, in the way that counts…formally. There should be a whole lot more formal complaints about racial discrimination.

I first heard the phrase “shift the focus” as applied to black politics from the black conservatives who suddenly popped up in the media after Reagan's election. I said then, and I say now that it's a matter of widening the focus, not shifting it.

]]> By: morphushttp://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/2009/11/depression-2-0-hits-young-african-americans-hardcore/comment-page-1/#comment-316253 morphus Thu, 26 Nov 2009 14:22:41 +0000 http://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/?p=17651#comment-316253 No one asks this question or maybe these studies serve their purpose to redirect ones attention: <i><b>Why is it that job sectors where minorities made inroads or where minorities have reached the proverbial glass ceiling suddenly disappear, reclassified (i.e. requirement for degrees to perform same job skill set, jobs removed from government and placed into private hands), or downgrade to lower pay</i></b>? There is history to support how Blacks are repeatedly economically undermined and then told its their fault. The most recent example is the subprime loans. Before the current subprime exploit targeting minorities, another noticeable manufactured economic crisis occurred during the Wilson administration<blockquote>This paper explores the relationship between racism in <a href="http://www.allacademic.com/meta/p_mla_apa_research_citation/0/3/5/2/8/p35288_index.html" rel="nofollow">Woodrow Wilson’s administration and the economic stability of African Americans in Washington, D.C.</a> Despite the spread of de jure racism throughout the American South after Reconstruction, Washington had no officially sanctioned color line in 1912. African-American office workers comprised a small but integral part of the federal labor pool, working as clerks, division heads, and even presidential appointees in all of the executive departments. They formed the elite of a growing black community that was steadily making inroads into Washington’s middle-classes. Wilson’s administrators impeded this process by segregating, dismissing, and blocking the hiring and promoting of black clerks. The near elimination of black white-collar labor consolidated Washington’s color line into a class and economic boundary. This paper examines the ways in which early African-American protest leaders used the experiences and demands of the capital’s government workers to start one of the first nation-wide movements for civil rights in United States history. Government work was providing African Americans with access to both income and wealth before 1912 and that the basis for the protest was as much civil rights and citizenship as a demand for the right to earn stable incomes through public service.</blockquote> No one asks this question or maybe these studies serve their purpose to redirect ones attention: Why is it that job sectors where minorities made inroads or where minorities have reached the proverbial glass ceiling suddenly disappear, reclassified (i.e. requirement for degrees to perform same job skill set, jobs removed from government and placed into private hands), or downgrade to lower pay? There is history to support how Blacks are repeatedly economically undermined and then told its their fault. The most recent example is the subprime loans. Before the current subprime exploit targeting minorities, another noticeable manufactured economic crisis occurred during the Wilson administration
This paper explores the relationship between racism in Woodrow Wilson’s administration and the economic stability of African Americans in Washington, D.C. Despite the spread of de jure racism throughout the American South after Reconstruction, Washington had no officially sanctioned color line in 1912. African-American office workers comprised a small but integral part of the federal labor pool, working as clerks, division heads, and even presidential appointees in all of the executive departments. They formed the elite of a growing black community that was steadily making inroads into Washington’s middle-classes. Wilson’s administrators impeded this process by segregating, dismissing, and blocking the hiring and promoting of black clerks. The near elimination of black white-collar labor consolidated Washington’s color line into a class and economic boundary. This paper examines the ways in which early African-American protest leaders used the experiences and demands of the capital’s government workers to start one of the first nation-wide movements for civil rights in United States history. Government work was providing African Americans with access to both income and wealth before 1912 and that the basis for the protest was as much civil rights and citizenship as a demand for the right to earn stable incomes through public service.

]]> By: Guns3000http://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/2009/11/depression-2-0-hits-young-african-americans-hardcore/comment-page-1/#comment-316233 Guns3000 Thu, 26 Nov 2009 10:18:24 +0000 http://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/?p=17651#comment-316233 I hear you Plant and you are not wrong. But discrimination has been around for centuries and like the grown folks told me growing up and they probably told you,"Some people ain't changin". I think as a people we would be better off concentrating on things that are in our control ie lowering drop out rates in predominately black school districts, ensuring higher education and trade skills for our people. Changing some of our attitudes about teen pregnancy, alcohol and drugs. And being more critical about violence in our neighborhoods. These are the things that are in OUR control. We can't wait in Congress or Obama to "do something" about discrimination especially considering that fact that they probably can't do much we won't have much progress. MLK marched but he was a very educated man. Malcolm fought discrimination but his house was in order. With dropout rates in black areas as they are black unemployment will always be high. It's hard to get a job at Mickey D's without a high diploma and no amount of new laws or government spending will change that. I hear you Plant and you are not wrong. But discrimination has been around for centuries and like the grown folks told me growing up and they probably told you,”Some people ain't changin”. I think as a people we would be better off concentrating on things that are in our control ie lowering drop out rates in predominately black school districts, ensuring higher education and trade skills for our people. Changing some of our attitudes about teen pregnancy, alcohol and drugs. And being more critical about violence in our neighborhoods. These are the things that are in OUR control. We can't wait in Congress or Obama to “do something” about discrimination especially considering that fact that they probably can't do much we won't have much progress. MLK marched but he was a very educated man. Malcolm fought discrimination but his house was in order. With dropout rates in black areas as they are black unemployment will always be high. It's hard to get a job at Mickey D's without a high diploma and no amount of new laws or government spending will change that.

]]> By: Plantsmantxhttp://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/2009/11/depression-2-0-hits-young-african-americans-hardcore/comment-page-1/#comment-316230 Plantsmantx Thu, 26 Nov 2009 09:01:07 +0000 http://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/?p=17651#comment-316230 We need to do both, and we can't get a hold of the <i>part</i> of the problem that is within our control without us having the sense that we're doing it for us as a purely positive thing- that is, having the sense that we're not doing it to keep some other people from talking bad about us, or trying to do bad to us, because the people who are inclined to do that won't stop- ever. We will have to fight them forever. It's way past time we understood that. The world has always been about competition between <i>peoples</i>, and we have to go onto a competition footing as a people. For us, not for them.. That can't happen unless and until people forget about trying to be loved and accepted, and concentrate on access and fairness. We need to do both, and we can't get a hold of the part of the problem that is within our control without us having the sense that we're doing it for us as a purely positive thing- that is, having the sense that we're not doing it to keep some other people from talking bad about us, or trying to do bad to us, because the people who are inclined to do that won't stop- ever. We will have to fight them forever. It's way past time we understood that. The world has always been about competition between peoples, and we have to go onto a competition footing as a people. For us, not for them.. That can't happen unless and until people forget about trying to be loved and accepted, and concentrate on access and fairness.

]]> By: ericjhendersonhttp://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/2009/11/depression-2-0-hits-young-african-americans-hardcore/comment-page-1/#comment-316215 ericjhenderson Thu, 26 Nov 2009 07:08:48 +0000 http://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/?p=17651#comment-316215 The money shot: "...the failed education system. Jobs move over seas for more that just cheap labor. Also educated labor." <br><br>Thank you.<br><br>What we're seeing is a gross symptom of a deep deep problem. The money shot: “…the failed education system. Jobs move over seas for more that just cheap labor. Also educated labor.”

Thank you.

What we're seeing is a gross symptom of a deep deep problem.

]]> By: case123http://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/2009/11/depression-2-0-hits-young-african-americans-hardcore/comment-page-1/#comment-316202 case123 Thu, 26 Nov 2009 05:58:50 +0000 http://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/?p=17651#comment-316202 What is usually missing from this type of discussion is what kind of jobs should be created and who will do it. People on the left and right ring their hands at Obama (in office for less than a year when the problem took years to create) but I am left wondering what should the jobs be?? <br><br>Retail?, personal overspending contributed to this mess. Manufacturing?, and sell the products to who? China? Service?, etc. It is easy to complain about the lack of jobs, but what DO we want and how has to be articulated and demanded. Should we start New Deal like service projects (my personal pick, but then the fight over where and how much) also we have an entire generation of Americans indoctrinated in Reagonism, a la government of all kinds is bad even good paying jobs and are inclined to be against such. <br><br>Also, the biggest elephant in the room... the failed education system. Jobs move over seas for more that just cheap labor. Also educated labor. What is usually missing from this type of discussion is what kind of jobs should be created and who will do it. People on the left and right ring their hands at Obama (in office for less than a year when the problem took years to create) but I am left wondering what should the jobs be??

Retail?, personal overspending contributed to this mess. Manufacturing?, and sell the products to who? China? Service?, etc. It is easy to complain about the lack of jobs, but what DO we want and how has to be articulated and demanded. Should we start New Deal like service projects (my personal pick, but then the fight over where and how much) also we have an entire generation of Americans indoctrinated in Reagonism, a la government of all kinds is bad even good paying jobs and are inclined to be against such.

Also, the biggest elephant in the room… the failed education system. Jobs move over seas for more that just cheap labor. Also educated labor.

]]> By: ecthompsonhttp://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/2009/11/depression-2-0-hits-young-african-americans-hardcore/comment-page-1/#comment-316203 ecthompson Thu, 26 Nov 2009 05:53:38 +0000 http://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/?p=17651#comment-316203 I talked about this on <a href="http://www.whereistheoutrage.net/wordpress/2009/11/18/the-errington-thompson-show-11-14-09/" rel="nofollow">my radio show</a>. Unemployment has hit minorities extremely hard.<br><br>From <a href="http://www.epi.org/analysis_and_opinion/entry/at_10.2_octobers_unemployment_is_a_wake-up_call/" rel="nofollow">EPI</a>:<br><br>- In October, unemployment was 19.1% among workers age 16-24, 9.2% among workers age 25-54, and 7% among workers age 55+ (increases of 7.5, 5.2, and 3.9 percentage points, respectively, since the start of the recession).<br>- <b>Unemployment was 15.7% among black workers</b>, 13.1% among Hispanic workers, and 9.5% among white workers (increases of 6.8, 6.9, and 5.1 percentage points, respectively, since the start of the recession).<br>- Unemployment was 11.4% for men, compared to 8.8% for women (increases of 6.4 and 4 percentage points since the start of the recession).<br>For workers age 25 or older, unemployment reached 11.2% for high school educated workers and 4.7% for those with a college degree (increases of 6.6 and 2.6 percentage points, respectively, since the start of the recession).<br><br>President Obama has to focus on this jobs as his number 1 project. This is the only way that American is going to pull out of this slump. I talked about this on my radio show. Unemployment has hit minorities extremely hard.

From EPI:

- In October, unemployment was 19.1% among workers age 16-24, 9.2% among workers age 25-54, and 7% among workers age 55+ (increases of 7.5, 5.2, and 3.9 percentage points, respectively, since the start of the recession).
- Unemployment was 15.7% among black workers, 13.1% among Hispanic workers, and 9.5% among white workers (increases of 6.8, 6.9, and 5.1 percentage points, respectively, since the start of the recession).
- Unemployment was 11.4% for men, compared to 8.8% for women (increases of 6.4 and 4 percentage points since the start of the recession).
For workers age 25 or older, unemployment reached 11.2% for high school educated workers and 4.7% for those with a college degree (increases of 6.6 and 2.6 percentage points, respectively, since the start of the recession).

President Obama has to focus on this jobs as his number 1 project. This is the only way that American is going to pull out of this slump.

]]> By: Strings12http://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/2009/11/depression-2-0-hits-young-african-americans-hardcore/comment-page-1/#comment-316195 Strings12 Thu, 26 Nov 2009 04:27:26 +0000 http://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/?p=17651#comment-316195 I must admit that today is my first time I visit here. However, I have found so many interesting thing in your blog and I really love that. Keep up the good work! <a href="http://ezinearticles.com/?Natural-Colon-Cleanse---The-Best-Natural-Colon-Cleanse-Method-That-Really-Works&id=2711200" rel="nofollow">Colon Cleanse</a> I must admit that today is my first time I visit here. However, I have found so many interesting thing in your blog and I really love that. Keep up the good work! Colon Cleanse

]]> By: mon_dieu_ishmaelhttp://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/2009/11/depression-2-0-hits-young-african-americans-hardcore/comment-page-1/#comment-316185 mon_dieu_ishmael Thu, 26 Nov 2009 03:03:02 +0000 http://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/?p=17651#comment-316185 LOL - I remember those CETA programs. Local govt.s skimmed off piles of money and then redirected the funds to other areas. YES - they would need to be "new and improved". LOL – I remember those CETA programs. Local govt.s skimmed off piles of money and then redirected the funds to other areas. YES – they would need to be “new and improved”.

]]> By: Guns3000http://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/2009/11/depression-2-0-hits-young-african-americans-hardcore/comment-page-1/#comment-316179 Guns3000 Thu, 26 Nov 2009 02:15:18 +0000 http://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/?p=17651#comment-316179 Exactly, Plant can talk about discrimination all day but we need to get a hold of main part of the problem that is within our control. Exactly, Plant can talk about discrimination all day but we need to get a hold of main part of the problem that is within our control.

]]> By: Guns3000http://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/2009/11/depression-2-0-hits-young-african-americans-hardcore/comment-page-1/#comment-316173 Guns3000 Thu, 26 Nov 2009 01:56:35 +0000 http://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/?p=17651#comment-316173 They just pumped over 700 billion dollars in the economy and that hasn't guaranteed jobs for anyone. What makes you think pumping billions into Detroit or Philadelphia or any other city with a high black population is going to create jobs. <br> <br>The administration said that they needed a stimulus package to stop the unemployment rate from exceeding %10. And they got their plan it still exceeded it. What makes you so sure pumping federal money in "black areas" is going to to substantially decrease black unemployment? They just pumped over 700 billion dollars in the economy and that hasn't guaranteed jobs for anyone. What makes you think pumping billions into Detroit or Philadelphia or any other city with a high black population is going to create jobs.

The administration said that they needed a stimulus package to stop the unemployment rate from exceeding %10. And they got their plan it still exceeded it. What makes you so sure pumping federal money in “black areas” is going to to substantially decrease black unemployment?

]]> By: mon_dieu_ishmaelhttp://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/2009/11/depression-2-0-hits-young-african-americans-hardcore/comment-page-1/#comment-316170 mon_dieu_ishmael Thu, 26 Nov 2009 01:48:22 +0000 http://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/?p=17651#comment-316170 I agree that "if none of those problems existed, the part of black unemployment attributable to discrimination would still be there" But those problems do exist. The high school graduation rate in mostly black Detroit is abysmal but go six miles north and the mostly white school systems graduate 95-99% of their students. The high paying jobs in the auto industry, steel mills, and auto part suppliers are just not there any more. Even though education is not a panacea, the lack of education almost precludes any chance for financial success. I agree that “if none of those problems existed, the part of black unemployment attributable to discrimination would still be there” But those problems do exist. The high school graduation rate in mostly black Detroit is abysmal but go six miles north and the mostly white school systems graduate 95-99% of their students. The high paying jobs in the auto industry, steel mills, and auto part suppliers are just not there any more. Even though education is not a panacea, the lack of education almost precludes any chance for financial success.

]]> By: trose1http://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/2009/11/depression-2-0-hits-young-african-americans-hardcore/comment-page-1/#comment-316167 trose1 Thu, 26 Nov 2009 01:31:20 +0000 http://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/?p=17651#comment-316167 I am hoping they implement a new improved version of the old JTPA and CETA programs. Those programs actually provided training for people to learn skills. <br>Please, before anyone states those programs were failures please note I said they need to be new and improved. I am hoping they implement a new improved version of the old JTPA and CETA programs. Those programs actually provided training for people to learn skills.
Please, before anyone states those programs were failures please note I said they need to be new and improved.

]]> By: vdromehttp://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/2009/11/depression-2-0-hits-young-african-americans-hardcore/comment-page-1/#comment-316163 vdrome Thu, 26 Nov 2009 01:16:16 +0000 http://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/?p=17651#comment-316163 No one has an answer to black unemployment. At least no one I've read or heard. It's part of a larger problem of not enough good paying jobs to go around. We have too many people and not nearly enough jobs that pay a living wage. That's unlikely to change with the rise of other global powers like India and China. Our way of life here is not going to recover to previous highs. No one has an answer to black unemployment. At least no one I've read or heard. It's part of a larger problem of not enough good paying jobs to go around. We have too many people and not nearly enough jobs that pay a living wage. That's unlikely to change with the rise of other global powers like India and China. Our way of life here is not going to recover to previous highs.

]]> By: trose1http://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/2009/11/depression-2-0-hits-young-african-americans-hardcore/comment-page-1/#comment-316164 trose1 Thu, 26 Nov 2009 01:15:24 +0000 http://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/?p=17651#comment-316164 Something is wrong with me. I must have a fever. I agree with you AGAIN! Something is wrong with me. I must have a fever. I agree with you AGAIN!

]]> By: Plantsmantxhttp://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/2009/11/depression-2-0-hits-young-african-americans-hardcore/comment-page-1/#comment-316156 Plantsmantx Thu, 26 Nov 2009 00:30:45 +0000 http://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/?p=17651#comment-316156 I didn't answer your question because quite frankly, it's not a question I ask myself. When it comes to "doing things" specifically for blacks, I never expected him to do anything over and above what I expect of any Democratic President, and that mostly involves trying to protect civil rights/discrimination laws, and repairing the damage done by the previous Republican administration- you know, the usual cycle. In terms of what he <i>could</i> have done, the stimulus could have been larger, contained fewer tax cuts, and more infrastructure programs- programs aimed at areas with high black populations, with guarantees that blacks would get their fair share of the jobs. That's one thing. But as I said, I don't expect anything like that, so I'm not even asking myself those kinds of questions, let alone asking them of other people. I didn't answer your question because quite frankly, it's not a question I ask myself. When it comes to “doing things” specifically for blacks, I never expected him to do anything over and above what I expect of any Democratic President, and that mostly involves trying to protect civil rights/discrimination laws, and repairing the damage done by the previous Republican administration- you know, the usual cycle. In terms of what he could have done, the stimulus could have been larger, contained fewer tax cuts, and more infrastructure programs- programs aimed at areas with high black populations, with guarantees that blacks would get their fair share of the jobs. That's one thing. But as I said, I don't expect anything like that, so I'm not even asking myself those kinds of questions, let alone asking them of other people.

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