Giving Compass' Take:

• The Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program and the Aspen Forum for Community Solutions gathered panelists for the Working in America Series to discuss how race plays a role in employment and how to address the structural barriers that are limiting Americans progress. 

• The author points out that today the unemployment rate among Black Americans is approximately twice that of their white counterparts. How can philanthropists help first to understand how that statistic came about, and second, fund programs that will prioritize this issue?

• Read more about Black unemployment in America. 

Every year, millions of immigrants enter the United States in search of better employment opportunities. Their hope is centered on the idea that our labor market is a meritocracy — that hard work will lead to good jobs and the attainment of the American Dream. For Black Americans this has not been the case. Even after the abolishment of slavery, they have faced structural barriers to employment and opportunity.

Today, the unemployment rate among Black Americans is roughly double that of their white counterparts. Even Black college graduates are twice as likely to be unemployed as their white counterparts. The question remains: What can be done to improve equity, diversity, and inclusion in the US workforce?

Understanding the condition of Black American workers requires lessons in history and empathy. We can no longer avoid talking about the vestiges of slavery that continue to inhibit the progress of the Black community. “Racism is predatory,” Tomaskovic-Devey said.

What can be done to improve equity, diversity, and inclusion in the US workforce?

To answer this, the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program and the Aspen Forum for Community Solutions gathered a panel of experts for the  Working in America series. The discussion was moderated by Dorian Warren, president for the Center for Community Change Action and co-author of the new book, The Hidden Rules of Race.

Read the full article  American workers by Nicole Corea at The Aspen Institute