Pandemic Widens Employment Gap Between Black and White Americans

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People wait for a distribution of masks and food from the Rev. Al Sharpton in the Harlem neighborhood of New York, after a new state mandate was issued requiring residents to wear face coverings in public due to the COVID-19 coronavirus, Saturday, April 18, 2020. "Inner-city residents must follow this mandate to ensure public health and safety," said Sharpton. The latest Associated Press analysis of available data shows that nearly one-third of those who have died from the coronavirus are African American, even though blacks are only about 14% of the population. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)
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Dijon Barnes direct traffic while volunteering at a food distribution center Friday, May 15, 2020, in Compton, Calif. Unemployment figures continue to rise and more Americans are relying on food handouts amid the coronavirus pandemic. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

According to new data released by the Labor Department, the pandemic continues to take a toll on the Black community when it comes to jobs. The unemployment rate among Blacks in July was 14.6  percent and only 9.2 percent for whites, showing a wide gap.

Although President Donald Trump signed an executive order that would issue up to $400 in additional unemployment assistance, according to the Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, it will take more time before Americans in need see the money.

Click ▶️ to listen to AURN Washington Correspondent Jamie Jackson’s report:

A sign that reads “Food Not Rent” hangs from the windows of an apartment building in Northwest Washington, Wednesday, May 20, 2020. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
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