Blacks Robbed of Dignity When Biden Policies Discourage Jobs

Project 21 Blasts Report Showing Rising Black Unemployment

Washington, D.C. – Black unemployment increased in December, prompting members of the Project 21 black leadership network to question the economic competency of the Biden Administration.

Michael Austin

Michael Austin

“The latest jobs report doesn’t say low job growth is a problem; it says too many people have stopped looking for work,” said Project 21 member Michael Austin. “In an economic address, Joe Biden said ‘a job is about a lot more than a paycheck. It’s about your dignity.’ I wholeheartedly agree. That’s why we should take the latest jobs report as a sign to reject his socialist policies.”

Overall black unemployment rose by six-tenths of a point, according to December unemployment data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Only 199,000 total jobs were created during the month, far fewer than the 400,000 expected by economists. Labor force participation also remained stagnant at 61.9%.

“Here’s the bottom line,” Austin added. “Jobs are an important part of a person’s identity and well-being, and yet Biden’s perverse incentives are weakening Americans’ level of economic engagement. Congress stopping Biden’s Build Back Better Act is a step in the right direction, but it shouldn’t stop there. Congress should end the incentives that are causing more Americans to stay home rather than work.”

In addition to the overall rise in black unemployment, joblessness specifically among adult black women rose by more than a point, to 6.2% — twice the rate seen among white women. The unemployment rate for black men was more than twice the rate of their white peers. Unemployment among black teens was at 21%.

Donna Jackson

Donna Jackson

“When they campaigned for the White House, the Biden-Harris ticket promised racial equity. In power, their policies are putting more black folk out of work. This is unsustainable,” said Project 21 Director of Membership Development Donna Jackson. “These jobless numbers don’t yet reflect the damage we will see from the Omicron COVID variant and Biden’s employer vaccine mandate. But they do prove that the Biden Administration is failing in its commitment to black Americans.”

To schedule an interview with a member of Project 21 on this or other issues, contact Judy Kent at (703) 477-7476.

Project 21, a leading voice of black conservatives for over 25 years, is sponsored by the National Center for Public Policy Research. Its members have been quoted, interviewed or published over 40,000 times since the program was created in 1992. Contributions to the National Center are tax-deductible and greatly appreciated, and may be earmarked exclusively for the use of Project 21.

Founded in 1982, the National Center for Public Policy Research is a non-partisan, free-market, independent conservative think-tank. Ninety-four percent of its support comes from some 60,000 individuals, less than four percent from foundations and less than two percent from corporations. Sign up for email updates here.

Follow Project 21 on Twitter at @Project21News for general announcements. To be alerted to upcoming media appearances by Project 21 members, follow our media appearances Twitter account at @NCPPRMedia.



The National Center for Public Policy Research is a communications and research foundation supportive of a strong national defense and dedicated to providing free market solutions to today’s public policy problems. We believe that the principles of a free market, individual liberty and personal responsibility provide the greatest hope for meeting the challenges facing America in the 21st century.