Thursday, March 6, 2008

Response to Senator Schumer's speech

Q1:I believe that this ratio exists because high unemployment rate of African American is not news. According to an article—The Real Deal on Black Unemployment by Julianne Malveaux (an economist, author and commentator, and the Founder & Thought Leader of Last Word Productions, Inc, a multimedia production company.) in 2004, the unemployment ratio between African Americans and white males was 2:1, which is quite near to Senator Schumer's. It is common that when unemployment rate data are released, the news for African American is bleak. No matter what the overall unemployment rate is, the Black unemployment rate is higher.72% of black males who dropped out of college were jobless. 72% is indeed an appalling data. High education is an access to decent jobs. However, without a college degree doesn't mean you'll become out of job. Just as that in Senator Schumer's speech, it is around 75% of projected new jobs in the next ten years will not necessarily require a college degree. Besides education, I agree with Senator Schumer, "there are major-league attitudinal and cultural barriers to success here."

Q2:I think it will achieve some progress for helping African Americans to improve job stability. From the training process to the intensively follow-up, the STRIVE seems a thorough program that can assist the job finding and stability amongst the black male population. I am in favor of the two year follow-up strategy. It provides adequate time confidence for the clients. Moreover, Senator Schumer called for the increase EITC. But my concern is where is the funding for STRIVE to duplicated and become nationwide. As Senator Schumer stated, it was unlikely given that federal funding for these efforts had been steadily reduced recent years. That's a 90% cut, compared with 1978.I think it is ridiculous that the Bush government spend $275 million per day for the war in Iraq, while yelling the economy is in recession. Where is the money flooding for? Withdraw the money and make a real change in ordinary people's life sound much better and realistic.

Q3:I think these reasons are still applicable today. Problems relating to falling schools, dysfunctional families, high incarceration rates and racism still exist in today’s society. To solve these problems and change such situation need some generations’ efforts. If I am the leader, as what I said before, I’ll stop the war in Iraq to stop blowing the money for the war. Reducing the tuition for colleges and make it easy for the minors population. I am looking forward for Barack Obama win the next president. I think it will be an historical turning point for the racism issue.

Response to "The Schumer Speech". ( Anna)

Question 1: I think that there are many reasons why this ratio exists. Our world has never been perfect and it is still experiencing dicrimination and predjudice. Many people are judged on their ethnicity and backgrounds, which is very negative because it imposes disadvantges. Also another reason this ratio exists is because employers look for good qualities in people; yet if they stumble across a criminal background they do not want that kind of person working for them. I personally think that this is wrong, becuase many people change their lifestyles.Another reason is it is hard to get a job without a college degree. In Schumer's speech he says,"In 2000, 65% of black male high school dropouts in their 20's were jobless - in other words not looking or unable to find work - and by 2004, the share had grown to 72% "jobless." (NY Times, Plight Deepens fir Black Men, 3/20/06). I also believe that it is difficult overall to find a job today becuase of competition. As Schumer says, "political, cultural, economic and personal elements combine to erect a steeplechase of barriers that is far too difficult to traverse for far too many black men."I hope Long Island does something to create fairness in the job opportunities in their community.

Question 2: I think that the program STRIVE could be a very successful program due to what it can offer. One reason I think STRIVE is beneficial is becuase it is like a support network and follows the person even after a job is found. They make sure everything is running smoothly and if there ever was a family or work realted issue, they'd be their with a helping hand.They have a great teaching set-up to prepare people for the rigorous workplace and also can help people find affortable housing. I think STRIVE promotes job stability and is a program that has minimum downfalls.In Schmer's speech he quotes that, "STRIVE has 70% success rates". I think this program has the great ability to bring about big changes.

Question 3: I think these reasons are still applicable today. There are still many problems facing racism, broken homes, and failing schools. I think these problems will stay present in our society; yet their are many things that can help. If I were a leader I would stress kids to take high school seriously and offer programs to help them learn about the workplace and the "keys" to success. I also think that I would open up a large career center with employees who would meet with students twice a month or as many times needed. I think the government needs to step up and solve the problem of declining African Americans in the workplace; action needs to be seen because equality is most important.

Joe's response

1. Honestly, i have no clue why the ratio of african american college drop outs is like 40% greater than those of white college drop outs. In my opinion, it could be the location. For example, there are many african americans in large urban areas, and in those large urban areas, schools are not only harder to get into, but also quite expensive. I think it's a sad percentage, because in my opinion, everyone should be given the same opportunities and i think this horrifying ratio proves that indeed is not happening. 

2. In my opinion, if STRIVE were duplicated nationwide, i do not see how it would have a major effect on job stability by african american males. Seriously, if someone wants to go to work, and make a decent living, then they will. I don't see how being a member of a stupid organization is going to change someone's whole way of life. In fact, instead of attending meetings, and taking part in STRIVE those people should be at their job, making money and supporting themselves instead of depending on others or making lame excuses.

3. Ok, as for dysfunctional families being a reason for a poor labor force is ridiculous. I do think a certain degree of racism still exists today, and i also think that incarceration rates could have a negative effect on the labor force. The solution to that is, if those people had a steady job in the first place, chances are a lot less of them would be in prison. I don't have the answer to racism, some people are just ignorant.

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

3. yes i do think that these issues are still applicable today because students still deal with failing classes, family problems, and racism and i dont think it would ever stop because it's part of life. As a leader, what i would do to change regarding this issue is to try and find some programs or activities that would help students look forward to school and to learning knew things because they need something that would make them want stay in school and loo forward to things and like that they would be more successful.
i dont think that the strive would make a difference or would be successful in it's mission to improve job stability amongst the black male population because discrimination has been alive for centuries now and nothing has had a big change when it comes to giving colored people an apportunity to show people everything they are capable of doing and plus there are more programs similar to that one that have tried to make a difference when it comes to helping the black male and it hasnt happen yet so i dont think the strive would make a big difference.
i think that this ratio exists because of racism. still till this day racism and discrimination exists and it's practiced by many people. white people underestimate the ability of a colered person just because of the color of their skin or maybe because of their background story. they feel that if a black person didnt graduate from college that they dont have the potential for a real job and for responsibilities but if they know a white man that didnt graduate from college and is looking for a job they would consider his situation and i dont think thats fair because in some cases colored people have the same or even more potential than the white person.

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

being on a predominatly african-american campus i do feel that conducting this experiment with be relevant to the student body and opening their eyes to relity.

I dont belive programs such as STRIVE will help african american comunities because there are programs such as boys and girls club that make the same attempts in sving the arfrican-americna community .

I do belive that disfuncional backgrounds affect the future of African-american males, however i feel that urban communities have been able to over come the stigma of being stuck in their communities

Monday, March 3, 2008

Response To Senator Schumer's speach

I feel Chuck Schumer's speach was unique in the fact that he delivered it at SUNY Old Westbury. There is a plethara of African Americans at SUNY Old Westbury so this speach could be relevant to a lot of students who attend this university. I feel this ratio exists partly to certain black dropout's apathy along with institutional racism effecting the employment opporitunities they recieve. Senator Schumer stated "We can lull ourselves into thinking things are alright. But then we come back to the recent analyses and we see how mistaken that belief is when it comes to black males with less than a college education." I feel the program STRIVE could be duplicated nationwide considering that New York is a big state and it has proven to be somewhat succesful. I agree with the statement the Senator made with regards to the decline in the black labor force. I also feel more black men should make more of a proactive effort to become a major component in the New York work force

SCHUMER SPEECH

I believe the ratio that 72% of black males who dropped out of college, were jobless by the year 2004 vs. the amount of white male dropouts at 34% exists because many black people are underestimated, because of the color of their skin. Do be completely honest black people are prejudged most of the time, so for a person of color to go into a office looking for a job saying he is a college dropout, is a even bigger disadavntage for him rather than a cauachasian male. Just as Schumer says in his speech:
"We can lull ourselves into thinking things are alright. But then we come back to the recent analyses and we see how mistaken that belief is when it comes to black males with less than a college education."
Rascism in the workplace will never end no matter what law or bill is passed. We have laws against sexism in the workplace and it still is present today. The only way we can make change is that if we start encouraging early with young black men to attend college, educate them on how important it is to get a higher education.