Why Tea Party Lawmakers Are Trying to Conflate Poverty and Drug Addiction

by Seth Freed Wessler on May 7 2012, 10:07AM

Since 2010, a new meme has spread to dozens of states: Drug testing people who apply for safety net benefits. The goal is to change economic debates into a culture war over who does and does not deserve help.

Topics: ALEC, Drug Tests, Economy, Jobs Crisis, Politics

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Taxes, Poverty and Predatory Lending—a Knot That’s Finally Unraveling

by Kai Wright on April 18 2012, 9:25AM

Throughout the so-called boom years, poverty was good business for tax preparers and the banks that financed their deceptive “refund anticipation loans.” That shady market is finally collapsing, but have banking regulators learned anything from it?

Topics: Economy, Kai Wright

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How Are Racial Justice Activists Making Occupy Work For Everyone? [Video]

by David Zlutnick on March 13 2012, 10:26AM

As spring comes, the world prepares for the Occupy movement to once again fill the headlines. Colorlines.com talks with Occupy Wall Street organizers who have sought to keep race in the movement’s conversation.

Topics: #Occupy, Economy

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The Auto Bailout Saved Michigan—If You Don’t Count Black Workers

by Shani O. Hilton on February 29 2012, 9:43AM

Mitt Romney and President Obama have slugged it out over the Detroit bailout. It’s clear at this point that the bailout revived the auto industry. But thus far, it’s not been enough to heal the most ailing part of Michigan’s economy: black employment.

Topics: Economy, Jobs Crisis

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How Economists Tally Unemployment—and Its Affect on the Black Jobless Rate

by Shani O. Hilton, Hatty Lee on February 23 2012, 9:55AM

January saw a remarkable three-point drop in black joblessness. Economists are skeptical it’s real. But why? Put on your data nerd hat, because we’ve got the explanation.

Topics: Economy, Jobs Crisis

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The Street Corner Wisdom of Foreclosure Fraud: It Wasn’t Me

by Kai Wright on February 16 2012, 9:18AM

The San Francisco County assessor released an audit suggesting that many more demonstrable crimes were committed during the foreclosure bust than we once thought. That’s not a quirk. It’s rampant lawlessness. And it’s by design.

Topics: Economy, Kai Wright

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House GOP’s Jobless Image: Drugged Out, Lazy and in Need of a GED

by Seth Freed Wessler on February 14 2012, 9:07AM

That’s the picture Republicans want in voters’ minds, too, as Congress prepares for yet another brutal round of jousting over unemployment benefits.

Topics: Economy, Jobs Crisis

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What Drove a Sudden, Steep Drop in Black Unemployment? Nobody Knows

by Shani O. Hilton on February 9 2012, 9:40AM

Black unemployment dropped a whopping 3 percent in January, fueled by hiring of black men. Economists who’ve tracked black joblessness are waiting for the other shoe to drop—was it a statistical quirk, or is there a jobs renaissance afoot in black America?

Topics: Economy, Jobs Crisis

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Why Black Union Workers Matter In This Year’s Super Bowl Showdown

by Jamilah King on February 2 2012, 9:51AM

Indiana’s unionized workers have found an unexpectedly loud ally in the NFL’s players association.

Topics: Arts & Culture, Economy

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How San Francisco Organizers Rewrote the Rules to Save Minimum Wage [Video]

by David Zlutnick on January 27 2012, 9:04AM

Thanks to an innovative multiracial organizing campaign, San Francisco’s minimum wage is the first in the nation to pass the $10/hr mark. Colorlines.com’ video team speaks with the organizers about how they did it and what’s next.

Topics: Economy

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Our Economy Was Built on Bull. Until We Admit That, We’re Screwed

by Kai Wright on December 21 2011, 10:00AM

We have organized society around a misguided belief in unfettered growth and unrestrained capitalism. The question of 2012 must be how we begin building a society based on something different.

Topics: 2012: What's Ahead?, Economy, Kai Wright

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A Bronx Tale: How Racism Created Poverty, and Still Perpetuates It

by Kai Wright on December 16 2011, 10:20AM

The poverty in which millions of people of color live is not accidental. It’s the result of decades of political choices that first created ghettos and then left them prey to a growing industry that profits from their existence. The Bronx offers a uniquely clear example.

Topics: Dispatches, Economy

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What Congress Could Do on Jobs, While Hiding Behind Locked Doors

by Shani O. Hilton on December 9 2011, 10:01AM

Several lawmakes literally hid from thousands who swarmed the Capitol this week to demand action on jobs. Here’s some of the actions they could have long ago taken.

Topics: Economy, Jobs Crisis

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The White House’s Flawed Attempt to Crack Down on Food Stamp ‘Fraud’

by Seth Freed Wessler on December 8 2011, 9:47AM

As the economic downturn continues, poor families of color are often forced to make tough choices. And it’s because they have little recourse.

Topics: Economy

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Occupy Our Homes’ Day of Action Sees Progress in Oakland, Seattle

by Jorge Rivas on December 7 2011, 3:33PM

Several banks came to the negotiating table with home occupiers in West Oakland, Seattle and San Jose, according to protesters.

Topics: #Occupy, Economy

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Thousands of Unemployed Workers Expected to Protest in D.C.

by Jorge Rivas on December 6 2011, 12:28PM

The action comes as Congress votes on extending unemployment benefits to 2.2 million unemployed workers.

Topics: #Occupy, Economy

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Tired of Backing Biased Restaurants? Finally, a Zagat’s for Racial Justice

by Rinku Sen on December 1 2011, 9:59AM

Noticing that all the bussers in your favorite restaurant are Latino and all the waiters white? And that black people are nowhere to be found—unless you’re grabbing fast food? It’s not a coincidence. And now there’s a guide for

Topics: Economy, How We Eat, Rinku Sen

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Ex Philly Schools Chief Takes Heat for Unemployment Bid

by Jorge Rivas on November 30 2011, 11:43AM

Former district employees say that Arlene Ackerman doesn’t deserve another dime from the city.

Topics: Economy

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Got a Hustle to Pay Rent While Jobless? You’re Part of a $1T Economy

by Yvonne Yen Liu on November 4 2011, 9:54AM

Neither the public nor private sector is doing much to create jobs, and those that are popping up aren’t very good ones. So a lot of folks are taking matters into their own hands.

Topics: Economy, Jobs Crisis

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San Francsico Crowd Helps Black Woman Move Back Into Foreclosed Home

by Jorge Rivas on November 2 2011, 12:50PM

Sixty people gathered in San Francsico’s Bayview district to help Carolyn Gage moved back into her family’s home.

Topics: Economy

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