I see that my humble missive regarding what I call The Smart White Man’s Burden has garnered quite a bit of attention, both here and elsewhere throughout the blogosphere; I’ll have more to say on that matter very soon, because all of the Bullsh*t excuses certain of the HBDsphere’s major proponents makes me wanna retch, and the need for the Searing Light of Truth couldn’t be greater. Keep an eye out for “part two” on the morrow.

But for now, I’d like to return to a theme I’ve been carefully cultivating over the past few months, that of the curious question as to WHY Black Men remain the last hired, and first fired in American life. To be sure, there have been attempts to poo-poo my writings as mere crying in one’s beer, blaming “The White Man” and so forth; others, in a vain attempt to demonstrate how sophisticated they are, attempt to parse the issue out using arcane economic principles, or citing federal laws and the like, to explain the phenomenon. Yet, as my humble writings often do, none of my detractors really tackles a central and emergent theme in my writings to date:

That when it comes to human interactions on any level, relationships are paramount.

Insofar as the current topic I concerned, that of Black Men and employment, this key insight cannot be overstated or said enough. Because it is the one thing above all else, that Black Men, taken as a group, lacks the most. Both with others, and perhaps most importantly, among themselves.

Let’s discuss this a bit further, shall we?

There are some who believe, that the reason why Black Men do so poorly in the job market, is due to their lack of educational attainment. Some, quite a few in fact, will make a ready comparison to Black Women, who have been well known to do far better on this score. But I would like to humbly suggest that such a comparison is a serious and dangerous assumption, a colossal logical fallacy and mistake of the intellect.

Why do you say that, Obsidian? Simple:

Because when we consider Hispanic and Asian Males of similar ages, they don’t have the same unemployment problems-even those associated with criminal activity and spent time in the joint for same. In fact, these two latter groups often have members in their numbers, *who don’t speak English*-yet they’re still working.

Now, I’ve been blessed to work in many locales in my life. Had the chance to sit in many homes and actually watch how different people live. In just about city I’ve been in, the one constant was that, when I got to the hood, there’d be Brothas on the corner. NOT Hispanic guys. NOT Asian dudes (and here I’m talking about the “niggers” of the Pacific Rim: Thais, Vietnamese, Laotians, Cambodians). Brothas. In every town I’ve visited or worked in: DC, B’More, Motown, NYC, Newark, Camden, Philly, ATL, etc.

So, when we compare a more “apples to apples” groupings of Males, we see that education, while not insiginficant altogether, isn’t the linchpin that some so desperately want it to be.

Let’s consider another angle now, since I’ve brought up locales that are either majority Black or at the least, have a large Black presence…

In my hometown of Philly, there occurred a very curious series of evens that really raises the question of the importance and realworld utility of the Vote to Black Men.

It goes like this…

About a little more than a decade ago, there was a big row going on wrt Philly’s chronic Black Male unemployment problem; John Street, Philly’s second Black mayor and former Black city council president, was pressed to address the situation. At issue: the Philly Convention Center was due for a big renovation, which would involve two of Philly’s biggest trade unions, the Carpenter’s Union, and the Electrician’s Union. In fact, the head of the former was also a US Congressman (and remains so to this day) of a largely Black district, though he is White. The leader of the latter union has toyed around with the possibility of running for public office, but it would be a formality, since he has every bit as much power and influence as any other major player in Philly; he has made or broken political candidates, and those who are familiar with Philly history and politics will know well what I’m talking about.

Black Philly wanted a certain percentage of those two union workers to be Black, on the basis that since the city’s population was now majority Black (just tipping 50% or so), it was only fair that this be the case. The unions balked, hemmed and hawed, but seeing as “the Brothas and Sistas were running this city”, as John Street once famously (or infamously, depending on how you look at it), they finally agreed to report to city council at a time in the future on the mandated hirings.

The appointed time came, and when the city council asked about the Black union hirings they were promised, both heads of the unions just refused to answer them. That’s right, the heads of the union stood in open contempt of city council(!). To this day, we don’t know how many, if any, either union hired who was Black to do that work on the convention center. And we may never know.

None of this should come as any surprise to those who anything about big city politics and the politics of big city unions. It has long been known that the unions-and here I am talking about the skilled trades like pipefitters, electricians, and carpenters-were patronage networks for politicians. I just told you how both current heads of these unions were either in elected office themselves, or they had the ability to be a kingmaker to those who aspired to such an office. Nor is it a secret that union membership is a kind of “legacy admit” for Philly’s ethnic White guys-namely, Italian, Irish and Polish-and if one studies the big city politics of Chitown, NYC, Beantown, etc, et al, they’ll find the very same thing. Black Men *always* had a very hard time getting union cards that were above anything other than laborer-in fact, in Philly, one of the biggest Black Unions IS the Laborer’s Union. Show me a journeyman electrician or carpenter in a Black skin with a union card, and I’ll show you the Easter Bunny complete with the chocolate eggs.

Now, with all that said, let’s keep in mind the following facts:

There was a Black mayor, who prior to that was the first Black city council president of Philly.

There was a Black police chief.

There was a Black fire chief.

There was a Black city managing director.

There was roughly half-Black city council, AND it also had a Black city council president who went on to be mayor himself (Michael Nutter)

And, with all that “Black Power” they not only could make the unions hire Black Men, they couldn’t even get them to answer questions about it. Worse, for all of Philly’s “Black Power” it couldn’t get its own sons a job.

If that ain’t a powerful, and deeply profound statement about just how woefully inept and utterly impotent “Black Power” is, I don’t know what else to tell you.

But I can give you some more examples.

Go anywhere Blacks are in large numbers, and there you will be sure that Black Men are also outta work in large numbers-nor is this anything new; it’s been for decades. Yet, those same Black areas will look like Philly in terms of Black Faces in High Places.

And, to add insult to injury?-those same places will have Hispanic and Asian Males-who often have nowhere nar the political “clout” Black folk supposedly do, and as I’ve said, often don’t even speak English (proxy for low to little education)-yet, they’re working.

What’s wrong with this picture?

I was always taught, when you have eliminated the probable, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth. And the truth is, the main reason why Black Men lag behind everyone else when it comes to work-even Black Women-is simply because, Black Men don’t network. They lack the patronage networks that makes things happen. They can’t pickup a phone or write an email to someone they know and get another Black Man hired-if they could, the chronic unemployment rates for Black Men wouldn’t be so very high. Political clout, education, criminal history-all of these are but ancillary factors, because as I’ve shown you, they didn’t stop other groups of Men from getting on.

ALL other groups of people, network, and unabashedly look out for their own. Do you doubt me? Try hanging out with the Gay and Lesbian folk. Or spend some time among the Jews. White Women? Forget about it. And the Irish, Italian and Polish guys? Yup yup.

Even Sistas do it. How do I know? Because every Sista I’ve ever known, didn’t have to wait that long for a gig if she wanted it. Usually, it was but a phonecall or two away. Yea, they’ll take a bit of a hit in this recession, mainly because their Men will have such a bad go of it. But insofar as they’re concerned, it’ll be a relative speedbump. Nothing more.

But when it comes to Black Men, we are socially, economically, and politically isolated-thats the fact, Jack. And if you’re Black-or if you’re just someone who goes through life with their eyes open-you know what I’m saying is true.

It’s even true, it’s even especially true, with regard to our 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama. He got virtually 100% of the Black Vote-even Black MEN, like Armstrong Williams and Colin Powell, gave him their support-and what do Black Men have to show for it?

If the stats are any indication, nothing.

But wait Obsidian, the whole country’s going through a hard time right now, and besides, Obama’s not even halfway through his term, you may say. And you’d be right.

But here’s the point-not only has Obama done nothing in return for overwhelming Black Man electoral support, *he doesn’t even address their concerns openly or otherwise*. Obama’s from the Chi-he knows the deal. Yet, to date, the ONLY time he’s addressed Black Men as a group, was to dress them down on Father’s Day back when he was a candidate. And, because as far as I know, no one else who’s Black and Male are raising these kinds of points, I must therefore conclude, that the bulk and mass of Black Male voters, are cool with all that.

You get what you pay for…or in this case, vote for, I suppose.

Here’s the bottomline: Brothas, America has always been, and shall forever remain, an intensely competitive place. There are no permanent friends, only permanent interests. And truth be told, no one’s really all that interested in putting you on, for a variety of reasons. When push comes to shove, as it often does, and others have the power to determine who gets on and who doesn’t, and it comes down to you or your Sistas, the latter wins. Every. Single. Time.

Like Malone told Ness in the 1987 hit film The Untouchables, the reason why you’re not successful is because no one wants you here. You gotta develop your own team, one who’s singular purpose is looking out for each other. There’s no need in whimpering about the White Man, because I already told you the deal on that front; moreover, he has every bit a right to look out for his interests as anyone else. Nor will it do any good to go whipping up on the Sistahood-they don’t make policy, and are only playing the hand they’ve been dealt. Simply put, it pays these days to be a Double Minority, and I can’t knock the ole gals for shakin what they mama gave em.

In the end, this comes down to us, and whether we’re willing to take this time in our national history and use it as a serious wakeup call and a teaching moment, or, whether we will once again punk out and pretend like whatever else we’re doing is more important.

Until we learn to turn to each other instead of on each other, until we learn to make it our business to hook each other up, until we stop playing a rigged game that by design we cannot win, we deserve to be behind the Eightball of Life.

That’s my story, and until the hatahs can prove me wrong, I’m stickin’ to it.

Now adjourn your asses…

The Obsidian