The nations unemployment rate is currently at 6%. Among Black Americans, however, the unemployment rate is at 11%, twice that of the nation as a whole. This means that out of 100 people of all races, more black people would be unemployed that any other race. The reason the unemployment rate is high for everyone is that the country is in a recession, and if the country were booming, the numbers would be no different because during both times Blacks are more likely to be unemployed than anyone else.

Why is it that Blacks are hit hardest during hard times? This is answered by considering a theory called "Group Threat" - the extent to which members of the dominant group perceive that minority groups threaten their well being. When this happens, the dominant group is more likely to respond with prejudice and discrimination. When they feel less threatened, such prejudices will be far less likely to appear. Strenuous economic conditions in a racially mixed society have been known to bring about the group threat theory.

The above scenario is an historical factor on the lives of Blacks in America. At any point during any crises - such as during the great depression, world wars, and economic recessions - Blacks have suffered at the hands of the white majority and group threat. And afterward, it takes Blacks more time to recover than it does whites. Especially when whites already have the jobs and own more capital and have more home equity to draw from than Blacks. This too, is no secret.

Seventy-five percent of whites own homes to which they can draw money from and remain at a survivalist level during hard times as compared to 45% of Blacks who own homes. Thus when hard times hit, not as many Blacks have the ability to stand on level ground because of their lack of capital. But this - lack of capital - comes from home-lending prejudices and discriminations that banks and lending institutions practice.

So what do we do in times of economic recession and faced with the practice of group threat? We continue doing what we do best, which is to survive while the rest of society benefits from the privileges afforded to them by the great U.S. Constitution. Being white in America has its advantages and being Black in America has its setbacks. Do we turn to the Democrats or the Republicans? No, we turn to our maker and shout, RACISM!

© 2003 by C R Hamilton