The Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. took aim at President Barack Obama for his lack of action in addressing the economic disparities that plague Black Americans.
The revered civil rights activist said that as the nation's first Black president, Obama has failed the Black community and should have done more to deal with the disproportionate number of African Americans who are unemployed.
"The unfinished business is this issue of targeting racial justice,” Jackson told International Business Times.
“He has the view that racial injustice is something that requires a vote [in Congress]. Blacks are without a targeted plan. Without one, we’ll never have an even playing field.”
HAS PRESIDENT OBAMA TURNED HIS BACK ON HBCUS?
Despite the Black unemployment rate dipping below 10 percent for the first time in seven years, it continues to be nearly double the national unemployment at 9.5 percent in June, versus 4.6 percent for white Americans.
The revered civil rights activist said that as the nation's first Black president, Obama has failed the Black community and should have done more to deal with the disproportionate number of African Americans who are unemployed.
"The unfinished business is this issue of targeting racial justice,” Jackson told International Business Times.
“He has the view that racial injustice is something that requires a vote [in Congress]. Blacks are without a targeted plan. Without one, we’ll never have an even playing field.”
HAS PRESIDENT OBAMA TURNED HIS BACK ON HBCUS?
Despite the Black unemployment rate dipping below 10 percent for the first time in seven years, it continues to be nearly double the national unemployment at 9.5 percent in June, versus 4.6 percent for white Americans.
Jackson said the president has experienced an unfair amount of critcism, mostly racially motivated, from conservatives, however, he argued it should not have prevented him from directing his Cabinet to do more without the support of Congress.
“It’s time not for a national police summit in places like Baltimore, but for an urban reconstruction summit, where all the agencies are used in that reconstruction,” Jackson said.
“There is an opportunity to pull together government agencies -- [housing, education, transportation departments] -- and make something work."
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