US Economic Crisis: Soaring Rate of Unemployment for African Americans
Flat Unemployment Rate Masks the Race Gap

by Aaron Glatnz
Global Research, April 4, 2010

The U.S. economy added 162,000 jobs in March, but the unemployment rate held steady at 9.7 percent, according to new figures released by the Labor Department Friday.

On the whole, the economic news was mixed, but for African Americans, it was particularly troubling. The unemployment rate for whites held steady at 8.8 percent compared to February and went down for Asians from 8.4 percent to 7.5 percent. But it rose to 16.5 percent for blacks from 15.8 percent. Hispanics showed a slight increase as well from 12.4 percent to 12.6 percent.

“It’s very disappointing,â€