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As I've mentioned on HN before, I dropped out of high school and found my into a job in technology by way of a GED, public libraries and work as a landscaper, i

As I've mentioned on HN before, I dropped out of high school and found my into a job in technology by way of a GED, public libraries and work as a landscaper, in the DC area coincidentally. Everything mentioned in this article rings to true me. The transition traditional low-end jobs to middle-aged people and closed-circle of internships and job programs in particular. That said, the first step towards mitigating this would seem obvious - stay in school. Unfortunately, anecdotal experience says the particularly bad situation for young black teens starts with a general de-valuing of education and victim mentality at home.

bilbo0s 13y ago
Well... We shouldn't engage in wishful thinking either. Even if they graduate high school, the unemployment rate that awaits them is still pretty dismal. I believe the employment/population ratio for young black males "increased" to 33% for high school graduates... Only the Bureau of Labor Statistics doesn't count incarcerated people in that ratio. So if you throw in that 1 in 9 young black males who are incarcerated, (I know it's higher, but 1 in 9 is the rate for high school graduates), you can see pretty clearly that even with a high school diploma they barely crack a 20% employment/population ratio. And that's actually being pretty generous with the numbers. Of course, 20% - 25% is a better chance than 5%, so it's TECHNICALLY better to have a high school diploma... But since the unemployment rate for whites with no high school diploma hoovers around 12%... it's actually MUCH better just to be white, than it is to graduate high school. For blacks, especially males, I think the only way education really helps them in a material fashion, is if they can manage to graduate college.
- incision 13y ago
  >We shouldn't engage in wishful thinking either. Of course not. That's why I refer to staying in school as a "first step" as opposed to a solution. >But since the unemployment rate for whites with no high school diploma hoovers around 12%... it's actually MUCH better just to be white, than it is to graduate high school. I'd expect it's even better to be born rich and well-connected. Equality and the distribution of wealth and influence are important topics, but they're the last thing anyone who's actively struggling should be concerned with. >For blacks, especially males, I think the only way education really helps them in a material fashion, is if they can manage to graduate college. Both the statistics you provided and my experience disagree with this notion.
tracker1 13y ago
It happens a lot in lower income white and hispanic communities as well... I don't think this is so much a racial issue as it is one of multi-generation poverty.
- incision 13y ago
  That's certainly logical, but I can't speak with as much anecdotal authority about those communities.

bilbo0s 13y ago

Well... We shouldn't engage in wishful thinking either. Even if they graduate high school, the unemployment rate that awaits them is still pretty dismal. I believe the employment/population ratio for young black males "increased" to 33% for high school graduates... Only the Bureau of Labor Statistics doesn't count incarcerated people in that ratio. So if you throw in that 1 in 9 young black males who are incarcerated, (I know it's higher, but 1 in 9 is the rate for high school graduates), you can see pretty clearly that even with a high school diploma they barely crack a 20% employment/population ratio. And that's actually being pretty generous with the numbers. Of course, 20% - 25% is a better chance than 5%, so it's TECHNICALLY better to have a high school diploma... But since the unemployment rate for whites with no high school diploma hoovers around 12%... it's actually MUCH better just to be white, than it is to graduate high school. For blacks, especially males, I think the only way education really helps them in a material fashion, is if they can manage to graduate college.

incision 13y ago
>We shouldn't engage in wishful thinking either. Of course not. That's why I refer to staying in school as a "first step" as opposed to a solution. >But since the unemployment rate for whites with no high school diploma hoovers around 12%... it's actually MUCH better just to be white, than it is to graduate high school. I'd expect it's even better to be born rich and well-connected. Equality and the distribution of wealth and influence are important topics, but they're the last thing anyone who's actively struggling should be concerned with. >For blacks, especially males, I think the only way education really helps them in a material fashion, is if they can manage to graduate college. Both the statistics you provided and my experience disagree with this notion.

tracker1 13y ago

It happens a lot in lower income white and hispanic communities as well... I don't think this is so much a racial issue as it is one of multi-generation poverty.

incision 13y ago
That's certainly logical, but I can't speak with as much anecdotal authority about those communities.