U.S. House of Representatives
As he moves about the nation, or when he finds himself in front of television cameras, President Trump brags about the state of the economy.
“It’s the greatest,” he contends, adding that Black and Brown unemployment is at historical lows.
Well, hold your horses, Mr. President. Everyone is not benefiting from the economy that you and those who serve you have unleashed.
Many of the jobs that have been created are low paying – some of them not even paying $7.25 an hour. You try living on that, Mr. President, and you will discover that you have not done enough.
Contributing to the problem is that Trump has surrounded himself with millionaires in his cabinet who do not have a clue about the problems of working people, whether they live in urban or rural areas. Most of them, I think, would not be able to give you the price for a loaf of bread.
There is a tremendous need for people in our country to be retrained for jobs that will enable them to compete in a global economy. But that takes training and money.
So, what was the first thing that the Trump administration pushed through Congress? A massive tax cut for wealthy individuals like himself, his labor secretary, his housing secretary, his education secretary and a number of others.
These people know little, if anything, about the plight of hourly workers or the unemployed. They give lip service to helping people in our society who live from one pay period to the next, who have extended their credit card limits. They do little to assist them. People cannot pay their bills with rhetoric, and that is what they are getting from this administration.
The president publicly does not address why the unemployment rate for African Americans is double that of White Americans. Where is the fairness? Where are the programs designed to bring about parity for all of our citizens?
A recent survey by a highly respected national social/consumer organization reported overwhelming numbers of African American families throughout America saying that low wages were a roadblock in their attempts to join the middle class.
Well, isn’t bringing more people into the middle class what the president talks about? Well, what is he doing about it? You tell me!
Years ago, there was a maxim that some people uttered. It ended, “… if you’re Black, get back.”
I would hope that there are not those in the corridors of the White House who repeat that as they go about their daily business.
Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson represents the 30th Congressional District of Texas in the United States House of Representatives. She also chairs the House committee on Science, Space and Technology.