God bless Georgia’s unemployed

By Judi McLeod —— Bio and Archives August 19, 2011

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God Bless every one of the 5,000 American job seekers who stood in Atlanta’s punishing heat yesterday, all in the hopes of ultimately landing a job interview. Thousands of these stalwarts camped out overnight in their business suits and office heels waiting to get inside Atlanta’s Technical College during a job fair sponsored by the Congressional Black Caucus.

In crippling, nationwide unemployment statistics, it is the State of Georgia that is writing the most painful narrative, July marking the 48th month the state has exceeded the national unemployment rate. The unemployment rate for African-American stands at 15.9 percent--far above the national rate of 9.1 percent. There was no sniping among all those waiting in lineups, just unwavering hope and a steely determination that getting inside the doors of the job fair might lead to a successful job interview. Authorities treated about 20 people for heat exhaustion as they tried to keep the line moving to get people inside to air conditioning.

Only the heartless would not be moved knowing that thousands of the job hopefuls stood in lineups, dressed in business suits and office heels, some carrying briefcases ready for work. Some of the reasons stated for their being there call out to human hearts. One man, well behind in the lineup, spoke of the long wait being worthwhile because of his three children waiting at home. An attractive young woman told reporters that even after filling out hundreds of job applications she had not received one call for a job interview. The thousands who waited patiently in the Atlanta heat speak for millions more of the unemployed. Atlanta is a live tabloid for the millions of decent, sincere Americans who want and need the dignity of work. Godspeed them in finding it.