Shocking: Black Teen Unemployment Rate 41.6%

[Karee 4,191]

So when you blame the crime numbers on those living in and around poverty remember that bottom line everyone has got to eat. Either we as a people give them jobs or wait for them to crawl through our windows. It's street economics 101.

Give them jobs? How about they go out and get jobs? The USSR used to "give" people jobs. They had a 0% unemployment rate. Maybe we should institute their economic policies? It did have zero unemployment after all, so it must be good.

Edited August 5, 2013 by Karee

[decocker 7,198]

You get it. BUT what is considered a living wage here (they say it is $12.15 per hour) is far below the benefits a family can earn on welfare which is nearly $50,000 per year income equivilent.

you are right in that many people are forced to make a decision to either work and never make ends meet or not work and receive benefits to barely maintain. i don't know how much a family on welfare can "earn" - but in my experience here in virginia - it's nowhere near 50 grand a year.

[Jacque67 7,328]

You get it. BUT what is considered a living wage here (they say it is $12.15 per hour) is far below the benefits a family can earn on welfare which is nearly $50,000 per year income equivilent.

Now I guess at some point we could reduce benefits appropriately.

I do not wish to see people live in terrible poverty, that is NOT good for the future either. I do not wish to see people be hopeless or never have a feeling of being independent. But it is a long way from uneducated and inexperienced to $50,000 per year. In fact that is more than the average income for the state...or the United States

I also do not believe in "handouts" and that is what it is IF there is no path out for the people. I have no porblem with a "hand up". WE will provide them their needs IF they are working on a path to provide them for themselves. People who are mentally or physically unable to are different but they are few.

In the long run, then, the family becomes independent and the children or grandchildren can leave behind this life of ghettos and projects and food stamps and crime and poverty. It may not make a difference this year or next year but maybe in 10 years or 30 years. What if the black family unit could be restored to the level it was in 1950 with the opportunities for blacks in 2013????

Anyway, education and experience won't hurt anyone.

Agree with you on this. Education is a way out.

[Penny Lane 8,159]

Agree with you on this. Education is a way out.

Education and opportunity are the keys to success.

There aren't many poor people who are poor because they WANT to be.

[Jacque67 7,328]

Education and opportunity are the keys to success.

There aren't many poor people who are poor because they WANT to be.

True. I think a part of the problem is that many blacks who get educated experience prejudice. However this is true for the working class in the UK, Jews etc. The fact that America now has a black president proves that one should not give up the good fight. Life is tough for everyone in different ways. Edited August 5, 2013 by Jacque67

[Penny Lane 8,159]

True. I think a part of the problem is that many blacks who get educated experience prejudice.

Absolutely. That's evidenced here in these forums pretty well.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

You want me to be your tickler again?

Well in Pasha's case he knew he had a place at university at the end of his low paid work experience. Alla knew she had you to depend on and a comfortable existence to return to at the end of the day. Comparisons are odious . Please try to widen you horizons.

Yes she did.

Yeah, its called a "family". Alla had a HUSBAND to depend on and the children had a FATHER. The PARENTS devoted themselves to the children and helped them with their school work, kept them from trouble, taught them to speak multiple languages properly and even to use correct formal language with adults, and taught them to walk straight home if a creepy-@ss craker followed them. (God help them if they speak informerly to an elder! If you spoke Russian you would know what I mean) I helped in preparing their college applications and helped in reviewing US universities. Now they are all sucessful.

And your point is?

Pasha got his place at University of Houston with a 3.993 GPA and finishing 6 credits of University AP mathmatics at UVM before he finished HS. Thats called education. Sergey got his place at Rice by finishing a Masters with honors at age 20 in one of the world's top universities, and he got THAT place by winning the Ukrainian Math Olympiad, the prize being a "place" at the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology. Education.

Pasha began working when he was 14, that is the legal age here to work. There are not a lot of jobs for 14 year olds so I created a business for him of detailing automobiles for people. They brought the car to our house, I gave them a ride home and then Pasha cleaned the cars in every detail. When he was done I went to get the people and bring them to their car. I also bought a few cars at auction, he cleaned them up and we sold them and split the profits...a little capitalism training. Nothing there for the future at all, he no longer cleans cars. He was 14. He had no ideas about college at that point. THAT is what a father can do. THAT is what a family can do. when he was 16 we did a resume together for him to apply for other jobs. He said "I have no job references" Really? Didn't you detail cars? "Yes" What about Mrs. Everett, you cleaned her car many times, you think she will give you a reference? "Yes, probably" OK, call her and ask her. See... by age 16 he had work experience was doing well in school, spoke two languages very well (even could read cursive) and had several very good references regarding his work ethic and ability. What else do you think an employer looks for in a 16 year old? Good grades, neat appearance, respectful language, references of work ethic ven if not directly related to the next job, VOILA! You are hired! Even a black kid could get the job!

What was your point? What should I expand?

Again, if you are against education of young black people, and against them having work experience, then say so.

Edited August 5, 2013 by Gary and Alla

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

True. I think a part of the problem is that many blacks who get educated experience prejudice. However this is true for the working class in the UK, Jews etc. The fact that America now has a black president proves that one should not give up the good fight. Life is tough for everyone in different ways.

Glad you agree with me then

[Penny Lane 8,159]

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Education and opportunity are the keys to success.

There aren't many poor people who are poor because they WANT to be.

And all I suggest is that people trapped in welfare be required to attend school and/or work 40 hours per week and NOT be penalized for making money while they gain experience. The current system strips them of benefits if they work and earn money and often take away far more in benefits than they can earn. Why should someone work to make $275 per week only to lose $300/mo in food stamps and $900/mo in health benefits, and $400/mo in housing subsidy, etc?

It's retarded!

[Jacque67 7,328]

Yes she did.

Yeah, its called a "family". Alla had a HUSBAND to depend on and the children had a FATHER. The PARENTS devoted themselves to the children and helped them with their school work, kept them from trouble, taught them to speak multiple languages properly and even to use correct formal language with adults, and taught them to walk straight home if a creepy-@ss craker followed them. (God help them if they speak informerly to an elder! If you spoke Russian you would know what I mean) I helped in preparing their college applications and helped in reviewing US universities. Now they are all sucessful.

And your point is?

Pasha got his place at University of Houston with a 3.993 GPA and finishing 6 credits of University AP mathmatics at UVM before he finished HS. Thats called education. Sergey got his place at Rice by finishing a Masters with honors at age 20 in one of the world's top universities, and he got THAT place by winning the Ukrainian Math Olympiad, the prize being a "place" at the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology. Education.

Pasha began working when he was 14, that is the legal age here to work. There are not a lot of jobs for 14 year olds so I created a business for him of detailing automobiles for people. They brought the car to our house, I gave them a ride home and then Pasha cleaned the cars in every detail. When he was done I went to get the people and bring them to their car. I also bought a few cars at auction, he cleaned them up and we sold them and split the profits...a little capitalism training. Nothing there for the future at all, he no longer cleans cars. He was 14. He had no ideas about college at that point. THAT is what a father can do. THAT is what a family can do. when he was 16 we did a resume together for him to apply for other jobs. He said "I have no job references" Really? Didn't you detail cars? "Yes" What about Mrs. Everett, you cleaned her car many times, you think she will give you a reference? "Yes, probably" OK, call her and ask her. See... by age 16 he had work experience was doing well in school, spoke two languages very well (even could read cursive) and had several very good references regarding his work ethic and ability. What else do you think an employer looks for in a 16 year old? Good grades, neat appearance, respectful language, references of work ethic ven if not directly related to the next job, VOILA! You are hired! Even a black kid could get the job!

What was your point? What should I expand?

Again, if you are against education of young black people, and against them having work experience, then say so.

My point is your adopted children were not under privileged and knew whatever ####### job they took they would not experience the prejudice black children in the same position would experience. They knew they could go back to a comfortable home and get warm food. Plenty of EU middle class white kids do it. - it is called slumming it.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Agree with you on this. Education is a way out.

+1

That IS what I have been saying.

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

Give them jobs? How about they go out and get jobs? The USSR used to "give" people jobs. They had a 0% unemployment rate. Maybe we should institute their economic policies? It did have zero unemployment after all, so it must be good.

and part of the problem is an attitude that flipping burgers or bagging groceries is not acceptable work. You are not going to enter the work force in a high paying job unless you have a hard skill or a degree that is high demand.

You have to enter the work force and you have to have soft skills. Soft Skills--Show up on time, look presentable, have a good attitude, work hard. You do these things and you will advance I don't care what color you are.

I was in management for almost 30 years and it insults me when people say , it is hard for blacks to hired and promoted. We always were hungry to get good people and when we did they advanced rapidly. The problem is, at least in my area, is that so many young black men have so little guidance in their life they are almost unemployable.

[Penny Lane 8,159]

And all I suggest is that people trapped in welfare be required to attend school and/or work 40 hours per week and NOT be penalized for making money while they gain experience.

I agree.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

My point is your adopted children were not under privileged and knew whatever ####### job they took they would not experience the prejudice black children in the same position would experience. They knew they could go back to a comfortable home and get warm food. Plenty of EU middle class white kids do it. - it is called slumming it.

Perhaps with education and experience AND a father figure, more families and children could experience that in the future.

Just my theory. Then again my kids maybe were just dumb@ss lucky. Even blind squirrels find an acorn sometimes. I doubt the Rice Doctorate would help Sergey much because, y'know, there are hardly any black people working at NASA ad he could just get that job because he is really, really white...wait...nm.