May's black unemployment rate surges to second worst under Obama

By Robert "Rob" Redding Jr.

Editor & Publisher

ATLANTA, June 3, 2011, 10 a.m. - The black unemployment rate today continued to inch forward, near the highest rate recorded for blacks during President Obama's tenure, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

Black unemployment rate for May was at 16.2 percent. The May rate is up from April's 16.1 percent, which was the largest increase since November's 16 percent. The highest rate, since Obama took office, was 16.3 percent in August.

What's more, April's rate was up from 15.5 percent in March, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. The previous rate in February was a lower 15.3 percent, which was down from January's 15.7 percent. The rate had been 15.8 percent in December.