| A recent holiday cartoon by acclaimed cartoonist | | | | his letter in the Baltimore Afro-American as saying |
| Walt Handelsman featured a number of empty | | | | that, "More than one out of every three |
| gift boxes that were labeled "jobs" and the | | | | unemployed worker has been out of a job for six |
| character in the cartoon was looking inside one of | | | | months or more. The situation facing African |
| them quite disappointed. | | | | Americans and Latino workers is even bleaker." |
| That view reflects the mindset of most regarding | | | | While Rev. Sharpton has made it clear on various |
| the state of American unemployment. There | | | | media outlets including "Larry King Live" and his |
| have been lots of promises regarding job creation | | | | own radio show that he may not agree with all of |
| wrapped in fancy program titles, but once the | | | | President Obama's policies, he is willing to work |
| pretty paper and decorative bows are removed, | | | | with the President who inherited a bad situation |
| the reality that is the rising tide of American | | | | and has been trying "to clean up a lot of mess in |
| unemployment sets in. | | | | a number of areas that he inherited from |
| While American unemployment has reached | | | | previous administrations." |
| record numbers, it is dwarfed by the even higher | | | | One area that remains underserved within the |
| rate of unemployment impacting African | | | | African American community and could be |
| Americans who do not even have the opportunity | | | | instrumental in addressing American |
| or access to open the pretty, yet empty boxes. | | | | unemployment is entrepreneurship. With small |
| According to Department of Labor figures, while | | | | businesses representing over 80 percent of the |
| the American unemployment rates were in double | | | | American economy and a major job creator, |
| digits (approximately 10.2 percent in October | | | | serious support given towards developing small |
| 2009), the figure for African Americans was | | | | businesses would help to bring down the |
| closer to 16 percent (approximately 15.7 percent). | | | | unemployment rate. |
| This has caused much concern as the issues | | | | The state of Maryland recently launched the |
| regarding just how and when these jobs will be | | | | Minority Business University initiative to provide a |
| created and who will benefit. | | | | forum for minority and women-owned businesses |
| According to reports in the Associated Press, the | | | | to identify areas to build and grow their |
| Federal Reserve does not fully expect the | | | | operations, especially in the area of financing. Lack |
| economic recovery will be strong enough to drive | | | | of access to capital has long been the death knell |
| down the jobless rate quickly. Currently, many | | | | for minority businesses. Now, with federal |
| mainstream media outlets have begun efforts to | | | | directives in place for the major lending |
| attack President Obama's plans to increase job | | | | institutions, who were backed by taxpayer dollars, |
| opportunities overall, by infusing the discontent | | | | to become better community partners there is |
| within the African American community. | | | | hope for small, minority-owned businesses to |
| Organizational leaders including Rev. Al Sharpton of | | | | have an opportunity to get the assistance they |
| the National Action Network and Marc Morial of | | | | need to see their dreams become a reality. |
| the National Urban League have been working | | | | There is no one solution to American |
| aggressively to keep the main issues regarding | | | | unemployment, but the recovery process has to |
| American unemployment and the impact on | | | | start somewhere. Maybe this time next year, the |
| African Americans in the forefront. | | | | holiday cartoon by Handelsman will feature gift |
| Morial recently sent a detailed letter and program | | | | boxes that will highlight new businesses, more |
| outline to President Obama who stepped up his | | | | jobs and happy, diverse faces. It is the holiday |
| job creation agenda in light of the increase in | | | | season after all...we can still believe in a thing called |
| American unemployment. Morial was quoted from | | | | hope (Helping Others Provide Employment). |