Black unemployment spikes to new high of 16.7%

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Black unemployment spikes to new high of 16.7%

By Robert "Rob" Redding Jr.

Editor & Publisher

ATLANTA, Sept. 2, 2011, 10 a.m. - The black unemployment rate has just reached the highest rate ever, since the first black president reached the office, according to a recent report by the U.S. Department of Labor.

Black unemployment is now at an astounding 16.7 percent, which is up from last month's 15.9 percent, according to the department. The highest for black unemployment, since Obama took office, was 16.5 percent in March and April of 2010.

What's more, the 16.7 percent rate for black unemployment is the highest in 27 years.

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Black lawmakers have been very public in their comments about how Obama needs to do more during a jobs tour conducted over the summer.

Black leaders also traveled to the White House in July to make sure debt ceiling cuts did not adversely impact their community.

Obama, the nation's first black to hold the office, has said that he will not target jobs to individual races. He will address Congress next week on the matter.

Overall, national unemployment remained at 9.1 percent, according to the department.

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