The Black Commentator: An independent weekly internet magazine dedicated to the movement for economic justice, social justice and peace - Providing commentary, analysis and investigations on issues affecting African Americans and the African world. www.BlackCommentator.com
 
Oct 21, 2010 - Issue 398
 
 

President Obama – To Connect to Youth
You Need to Connect Them to Opportunity!
By Edward DeJesus
BlackCommentator.com Guest Commentator
 

 
If President Obama is serious about our youth, then he must act now. At no time in the past 55 years have so few black male teens worked, when compared to their percentage of their population.  Comparatively, if employment rates for adults were to face a similar decline, our country would have to declare a state of national emergency. Proven strategies exist for increasing the employment prospects for the nation’s teens and young adults. Some of these strategies include public job creation programs and year-round subsidized jobs for youth in the private sector and public sectors. By investing in said strategies, the President has an opportunity to connect to the country’s most marginalized youth and put them on the pathway to future economic success.

The last period in our nation’s history to experience such a significant job decline was during the Great Depression. The economic bleakness of the 1930s forced the government to take action.  A national public works campaign, the Works Progress Administration (WPA), came into being. Thousands of adults were put to work building much needed bridges, roads and tunnels. The term “shock and awe” took on new meaning. My point? If the country could do it then to increase adult employment rates and reboot the economy, why can’t they do it now?

The Work Progress Administration (WPA) was a relief measure established in 1935 that lasted through 1943. During this time, billions of dollars were invested in creating work for people greatly affected by the depression.   It offered work, on an unprecedented scale, to the unemployed on a wide variety of programs; including highways and building construction, slum clearance, reforestation, and rural rehabilitation. The WPA had employed more than 8,500,000 different persons on 1,410,000 individual projects, and had spent about $11 billion. During its 8 eight year history, the WPA built 651,087 miles of highways, roads, and streets and constructed, repaired, or improved 124,031 bridges, 125,110 public buildings, 8,192 parks, and 853 airport landing fields.

Interestingly, one of WPA’s most notable projects was Federal One. Federal One was comprised of five major divisions: the Federal Art Project, the Federal Music Project, the Federal Theatre Project, and  the Federal Writers Project . Just one year after its inception, some 40,000 WPA artists and other cultural workers were employed in projects throughout the United States.

The project placed unemployed artists, musicians, actors and writers in positions on various projects throughout the United States on various projects, including working in settlement houses as teachers. Federal One not only provided work for artists, writers, musicians, and actors, but nurtured young men and women who were embarking on a career in the arts during the Great Depression. Many well known writers and artists were able to develop their talents as a result of Federal One. The WPA rolls had reached 2,300,000 monthly by June 30, 1943, when it was officially terminated.

Think of the possibilities that would bloom if the government would were to launch a similar effort, a “Federal Two,” but this time focusing on every young unemployed wannabe rapper, break dancer, rock star or skateboarder, and engaging them in projects focused on promoting education and opportunity throughout the urban and rural areas of the U.S.- think of the possibilities. When faced with a serious employment crisis, this country responded by engaging people in the subjects of their interest, not that those of the government’s.  Today, there is another crisis, and we need a similar reaction.

BlackCommentator.com Guest Commentator Edward DeJesus is a national youth development expert. He works with youth programs and young people in most of the major cities in the U.S., including D.C., Los Angeles, and New York City. Click here to contact Mr. DeJesus.