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mij|f; February 1981 Page 4 - NEWS Analysis Why Black Women are “Marketable” By Emmett Carson Contributing Writer There has been a great deal of speculation as to why black employment rates have been decreasing relative to whites, while simultaneously black unemployment rates have been increasing relative to whites. This is an interesting situation because in this period of declining affirmative action many collegiate blacks have been duped into believing that labor market discrimination is an illusion of the past and not the reality of the present. It is also interesting because black women must realize the precarious state of black economic progress and that their actions will have a very profound effect on it. Many black women truly believe that the remarkable employment opportunities now before them are a result of their own merits. While that might be the exception in some isolated cases, the truth of the matter is that they are classified as a double minority — i.e., black and female. Employers, who must meet federal hiring regulations, gain government service contracts by hiring black women over black men. White women who are also classified as minorities are also hired over black men because they are more readily incorporated into the corporate world. Finally, white men are also hired over black men because labor market discrimination still exists to the detriment of all minorities. As one can easily discern from this analysis, black men are the least employable of all mentioned above. advantage of every opportunity to move ahead, but to realize the circumstances of their advancement. If black women view their progress as being separate from the progress of blacks as a whole they will be creating an unbreechable gap. A gap not only between the socio-economic status of blacks relative to whites, but also TABLE ONE 1960 1977 Employment Black White Black White Employment Population Ratio 55.2 54.0 51.1 57.9 Unemployment Rate 10.2 4.9 13.1 6.2 TABLE TWO The job opportunities available to black and white males and females is Labor Force Participation Rates borne out by their respective “labor force participation” rates. Labor force Black Males 1960 1970 1977 participation refers to the number of 18 yrs. — 19 yrs. 71.2 61.8 57.8 persons in a particular group who are in the labor Force divided by the total 25 yrs. — 34 yrs. Black Females 96.2 93.7 90.4 number of persons in that category. As 18 yrs. — 19 yrs. 44.3 44.7 44.8 one can note from table two, black male labor Force participation rates have 25 yrs. — 34 yrs. White Males 49.7 57.6 66.5 undergone a sharp decline, while black 18 yrs. — 19 yrs. 69.0 67.4 74.9 female labor Force participation rates are increasing tremendously. 25 yrs. — 34 yrs. White Females 97.7 96.7 96.0 This article does not advocate that 18 yrs. — 19 yrs. 51.9 55.0 63.8 black women reject the opportunities now before them. To the contrary, this 25 yrs. — 34 yrs. 34.1 43.2 58.3 article encourages black women to take *These statistics were obtained from Julianne Malveaux’s article, “Shifts in the Employment and Occupational Status of Black Americans in a Period of Affirmative Action.” It can be found in the Rockefeller Foundation Working Papers Bakke, Weber and Affirmative Action, December 1979. between black male and female Morehouse College, is now pursuing a relationships. doctoral degree in economics at Emmet Carson, a former student of Princeton University. The Phil Donohue Show was recently taped in Atlanta to inform America about the tragedy of the missing and murdered children. Police Commissioner Lee Brown; Mrs. Camille Bell, mother of the late Usef Bell; Ms. Jean Blake, WAGA reporter, and a mother of one of the missing children were guests on the show. Photo by Phyllis Jones Fourteen Professional Black Women Honored By The Collections Of Life And Heritage ATLANTA, Ga. — Fourteen black women of Atlanta, Georgia who are regarded as “tops” in their respective professional fields were honored by the Collections of Life and Heritage, Inc. last December in “A Tribute to Black Women.” The tribute was the corporation’s first. Although only Atlanta women were AIRLINE JOBS For Information — Write AIRLINE PUBLISHING CO. 1516 E. TROPICANA 7A-110 LAS VEGAS, NEVADA 89109 Include a seif-addressed stamped envelope. honored, all black women were honored symbolically, “Collections” Vice President Isabel Gates Webster explained, because it is through the contributions of all that the foundation is laid for greater achievement, stability and survival among all black people. The non-profit corporation preserves “in a permanent multimedia display of sights and sounds the historical and cultural heritage of black Americans,” and serves as an educational / informational center and teaching museum of the African-American experience. The awards program was hosted by state Sen. Julian Bond and television anchorwoman Roz Abrams. Mrs. Jean Young served as honorary chairperson and Mrs. Juliet Blackburn-Beamon as chairperson. Dr. Anna Harvin Grant, professor of sociology and department head at Morehouse College, delivered the keynote address. Among those honored was Mrs. Evelyn G. Lowery, national convener of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference’s SLC/ WOMEN. She was cited for her committed work in civil rights. Although the organization is only approaching its second birthday, Mrs. Lowery is no neophyte in civil rights work. She grew up in an environment of civil rights leadership because of her father’s involvement in the NAACP,and she is married to a veteran of the civil rights movement, SCLC President Dr. Joseph E. Lowery. Dr. Lowery had the honor of presenting Mrs. Lowery with the award. He is an honorary board member of the Collections of Life and Heritage. Additionally, honored in community service was Ms. Margaret “Ma” Green, president of the Southern Hearts and Hands Foundation for the Handicapped; in business, Ms. Rosita Holsey, president of Atlanta Management Analysts Systems; in education, Mrs. Verna Henderson; in fine arts, Ms. Kathleen Peters, assistant professor of art at Atlanta Junior College; in government, Ms. Geraldine Thompson, a government administrator; in law, Atty. Savannah Potter, an assistant district attorney; in literature, Ms. Alice Lovelace, a writer, poet and actress;in media, Mrs. Hattie K. Jackson, a local television community Continued on page 8