Full Citation

Title: Challenging Two Enabling Myths about Black Male Employment

Citation Type: Journal Article

Publication Year: 2022

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Abstract: This piece challenges two “enabling myths” concerning African American male employment. The myths are-1) that the unemployment rate for African Americans in general, and African American males in particular, has “always” been multiples of the white male unemployment rate, and 2) that African American males have “always” participated in the labor force at a lower rate than white males. These “always” myths enable a belief that nothing can be done to address the current disparities, either because the disparities are baked into the “cultural deficiencies” of African American males as a “vestige of slavery”, or more insidiously that they are a result of a “biological deficiency” that cannot be overcome. These “enabling myths” enable political inaction. I demonstrate that the myths are just thatmyths-and that the disparities are a result of the post-emancipation actions of whites enabled by white labor market power under increased labor market competition during the Great Depression. The outcomes have been sustained in the decades since the Great Depression through causal mechanisms powered by American social structure, not by African American cultural deficiency and certainly not African American biological deficiency.

Url: https://neaecon.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/New-Economic-Analysis-Newsletter_vol-128.pdf

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Authors: Tauheed, Linwood

Periodical (Full): New Economic Analysis Newsletter

Issue:

Volume: 1

Pages: 1-27

Data Collections: IPUMS USA

Topics: Gender, Labor Force and Occupational Structure, Race and Ethnicity

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