Before compassion kicked in, there was greater equality — how could that be?
Seventy-one years ago this month — in January 1948 — a black, 17-year-old high school dropout left home. The last grade he had completed was the 9th grade. He had no skills, little experience, and not a lot of maturity. Yet he was able to find jobs to support himself, to a far greater extent than someone similar can find jobs today.
I know because I was that black 17-year-old. And, decades later, I did research on economic conditions back then.
Back in 1948, the unemployment rate for 17-year-old black males was just under 10 percent, and no higher than the unemployment rate among white male 17-year-olds.
How could that be, when we have for decades gotten used to seeing unemployment rates for teenage males that have been some multiple of what it was then — and with black teenage unemployment often twice as high, or higher, than white teenage unemployment?
Many people automatically assume that racism explains the large difference in unemployment rates between black and white teenagers today. Was there no racism in 1948? No sane person who was alive in 1948 could believe that. Racism was worse — and of course there was no Civil Rights Act of 1964 then.
How then could there be this low unemployment rate, with virtually no racial difference? Racism is despicable. But that tells us nothing about what weight it has — compared to other factors — as a cause of particular social problems such as unemployment.
T.S. knows what’s going on, always has, the blacks and whites would do well to listen to this wise old man. True hero and role model.
One of my good friends is a black guy that did a stint in the army, a bad ass Ranger, got out a took a job stacking pallets at a metal distributor we use. Five years later he was general manager. We talk often about race relations and WTF happened. The original metal supplier he worked for got gobbled up by Reliance Metal, huge, and now he drive truck for them. Making bank. He always shows up wearing a MAGA hat. I asked him once if Reliance ever asked him to stop wearing that hat. He told me nope, but the union has. I told them to fuck off. A great man.
Finally calling the elephant in the room an elephant. I have a lot of respect for Mr. Sowell. His essay should also include commentary about the difference in culture then and now. It’s all “game the system” now instead of national pride. It was brought in by immigrants – some not illegal – and Foreign Socialists. The outbreak of Hedonism didn’t help.
Kinder, gentler, economic slavery. Our guvner – Wolf-in-sheeple’s-clothing (PA) wants to raise our minimum wage to $12/hr. 🙄
Apparently, he’s B-I-G on UN-employment… 😳
Professor Sowell makes the effort to separate the wheat from the chaff.
Not many do.
There’s much more money to be made on the side of socialist/racist mendacity.
That fuckin putrid lick-spittle Krugman has made a fortune spreading the gospel of socialism (nihilistic totalitarianism).
Professor Sowell is that rare specimen: an honest (and honorable) Academician.
(despite his antipathy towards President Trump)
izlamo delenda est …
Quinn’s first law: “Liberalism always generates the exact opposite of it’s stated intent. No exceptions.”