Black Women’s Unemployment Rises; Three Causes Cited
U.S. labor‑market data show Black women’s unemployment climbing to about 6.7%, with roughly 320,000 Black women having left the workforce between February and April. Local and national leaders—including YW Boston CEO Aba Taylor and Rep. Ayanna Pressley—blame a retreat from corporate DEI hiring, small‑business cutbacks (cited as linked to tariff policies), and federal government layoffs; Pressley has asked Fed Chair Jerome Powell to collect and analyze data and propose a plan.
🔍 Key Facts
- Black women’s unemployment rate reported at 6.7%
- Approximately 320,000 Black women left the workforce between February and April
- Rep. Ayanna Pressley formally urged Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell to analyze the data and respond (Sept. 30 deadline mentioned in reporting)
📊 Analysis & Commentary (1)
"The author critiques contemporary progressive racial politics for privileging symbolic and cultural battles over concrete economic policies, arguing that rising Black‑women unemployment reflects policy failures (trade, hiring, federal staffing) that progressives often ignore and must address if they truly want to help the communities they claim to represent."