"Black Jobs"

#blackjobs #presidentialdebate2024 #rolltothepolls #election2024 #bidentrumpdebate2024

I wanted to reflect on a post I seen on LinkedIn by a recruiter who happens to be African American/Black. Here is the statement that she made regarding the Presidential Debate:

"I know there have been a lot of jokes around #45 talking about "Black jobs" but this term should be offensive to all Americans not just Black people & the subject is far from funny. It's actually embarrassing that people are making jokes about a racist comment. When I think of Black jobs my mind automatically goes back to slavery. They said that slavery taught us occupational skills. Yeah, nah I'm good on that one. 

"For Americans who care to notice, it’s janitorial, factory, food service, call center, transit, hotel housekeeping, security, and airport baggage handling roles (to name a few) that typically have substantially higher numbers of Black workers relative to their representation in other occupations. Trump offensively acknowledged this reality by categorically declaring these ‘Black jobs.’ He didn’t explain, however, why or how Black Americans end up being so heavily concentrated in positions at the lowest levels in workplaces across just about every industry." (Forbes, 2024)

Us Blacks have worked too hard to be categorized and get to where we are today. We deserve jobs with privilege, benefits, and equality. Those are the type of jobs that I want. 

I wanted to start the week off right because I am so tired of seeing a hashtag that shouldn't have been a hashtag in the first place. 

P.S. The only "Black job" I need us to do is go to them polls in November."

My response:

A few things about this post. She said, "When I think of Black jobs, my mind automatically goes back to slavery..."

My question to is, Does your mind go back? Or is it still stuck there? Seems to be that it never left thinking about slavery, if that is what you picked up from that one comment but failed to listen to the entire statement that was made.

Secondly, to address the quote from Forbes, "He didn’t explain, however, why or how Black Americans end up being so heavily concentrated in positions at the lowest levels in workplaces across just about every industry."

My Response:

Why would Trump have to address that in which is the choice of a Corporation? And the people who are applying for those roles? He doesn't make those decisions for the Fortune 500 companies or any others who hire their employees. First of all, he never actually gave a list of jobs, Forbes did. My question is, if they know the category of jobs that blacks tend to "occupy", then did what he say hold some merit?

Regarding the "Black Jobs" comment, could he have meant the overtaking of jobs that the black community (men/women) have had, that are now being 'lost' due to the surplus of immigrants coming into the country? That's what I got from it. I remember speaking to a middle aged co-worker who happened to be a 'black man' while living in Georgia. He mentioned that he was for "the wall" being built due to the fact that he had felonies that made it harder for him to get work. My co-worker thought it that was unfair others could come to the country, and get the jobs that he had such a hard time applying for.

Here are some other comments mentioned from a YouTube channel that covered only parts of the debate they wanted to highlight (uhem, "black jobs")...

Comment #1

"Trump was referring to the depressed wages for lower income workers caused by unrestricted immigration. This mostly affects black workers. The Socialist Party USA realized the same thing over 100 years ago and was firmly opposed to large numbers of immigrants for the same reason."

Commentary #2

" Y’all know what black culture, black music, black unemployment, black struggle etc is but y’all don’t know what black jobs are? Cmon now"

I don't understand why people couldn't just read between the lines of what was said and look at the bigger picture. Perhaps the comment could've been worded differently but there is truth to what was said, bottom line.

I mean, I watched the entire thing and I don't believe Trump meant what people thought, only because I have seen him say something similar in another interview. Or maybe it was simply my interpretation of it, because I heard the entire statement not just that part, idk.

Lots of people are pre programmed to believe that he doesn't care about communities of color, so they don't listen to what is said anyway because they are already on the defense. In all honesty, Trump/Biden aren't responsible for the positions we choose as a community (Black, Hispanic etc.). I believe with education, the right networking and building up, we can help one another.

Even in this, it is about ones' Choice. You can do all of those things, yet people still will choose their path because of their belief system or where they feel they belong. As the saying goes, "you can lead a horse to water...." To be frank, service jobs aren't at the low end of all jobs as some may think. Simply because I have worked most of the ones Forbes mentioned. Believe it or not, some folks feel they have purpose in those roles and do them extremely well. They are also very needed.

The comment didn't offend me though, cause I don't have a "black job". I bet if Obama said it, it wouldn't have been an issue. 🤨🤷🏾‍♀️