During the first presidential debate between President Biden and former President Donald Trump two weeks ago, Moderator Dana Bash of CNN News asked Biden:

“What do you say to Black voters who are disappointed that you haven’t made more progress?”

Biden defended his record, acknowledging more work remains. However, when Trump responded to the question, he said: “The fact is that his big kill on the Black people is the millions of people that he’s allowed to come in through the border. They’re taking Black jobs now — and it could be 18, it could be 19, and even 20 million people. They’re taking Black jobs, and they’re taking Hispanic jobs, and you haven’t seen it yet, but you’re gonna see something that’s going to be the worst in history.”

When I heard Trump include “Black jobs” in his response, I wasn’t offended or puzzled. Nor did I feel devalued as a Black American. In the context of illegal immigration and Black jobs, Trump didn’t make an untrue, stereotypical, or racist statement. He also mentioned Hispanic jobs, which to my knowledge, the community hasn’t publicly expressed they were offended.

Not everyone shared my reaction as a Black American. Trump’s use of the term “Black jobs” sparked controversy on Black Twitter and social media, with many Black people finding it offensive. Some questioned what exactly constitutes a “Black job,” while others made jokes about the usage. There were also concerns that Trump was referring only to low-paying, unskilled labor for Black people, although he didn’t provide further explanation.

Rep. James Clyburn commented on MSNBC that Trump’s comment was aimed at dividing people and sending a dog whistle. He emphasized that “There’s no Black jobs or White jobs in this country.”

The Rev. Al Sharpton stated that the statement was racist. Other well-known Black celebrities and professionals, particularly those with large social media platforms, defended their high-paying positions. However, the issue of immigration and Black jobs impacts the entire Black community, not just individuals.

The NAACP even posted that our #BlackJob is Voting. No. Voting isn’t a job. It’s a right granted to Americans to exercise however they see fit.

Overall, many Black people were offended by the “Black jobs” statement rather than directing their anger towards the political and corporate systems that have perpetuated the issue.

One of my political elders said in the past Black leaders were concerned about the harmful impact immigration had on Black Americans and had petitioned the federal government to halt open immigration until the nation had rendered justice to the Black community. However, in the mid-1960s, Black leaders shifted their focus from civil rights for Black people to humanitarian support for all struggling people.

During the week of the debate, I heard a broadcast where some Black men shared their opinions about Trump’s comment. They mentioned that many of them had been displaced by immigrants in fields like construction, truck driving and landscaping. These positions typically pay well, but undocumented immigrants agreed to work for less.

The term, Black jobs can have variations, depending on the context. However, Black jobs are specific positions that have historically been relegated to Black people due to the legacy of slavery, segregation, discrimination, and systemic oppression.

In a March 2022 report, “CAP 20 Occupational Segregation in America,” the authors discussed occupational segregation. The practice occurs when one demographic group is overrepresented or underrepresented in a particular job category.

Occupational segregation impacts overall wage gaps and limits growth. According to the authors, the causes of occupational segregation include “societal biases about particular demographics workers embedded in public and private systems, in policy choices, and operations across education, training, and work.”

Charts in the report revealed that White men dominated the highest-paying occupations in the United States, while men of color and, particularly Black women dominated the lowest-paying occupations. This highlights that Black people disproportionately occupy jobs at the low rung of the occupation ladder.

In a 2014 article, “Beyond the Numbers: Income and Spending Patterns Among Black Households,” the author provided a 2010-2012 chart, “Income Distribution of all Black Households.” The U.S. Bureau of Statistics reported that nearly 40 percent of Black families earned between $12,500 and $37,499 before taxes. As the salary range increased to $112,500 – $137,499 up to $562,499, the percentages dropped from 5 to 0 percent for Black Households.

According to the Pew Research Center, “a third of Black U.S. households earned $75,000 or more in 2022, with the median income at $50,000.” The center also reported that about a quarter of U.S. Black adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher.

While we must remain consistent about pushing for common-sense immigration laws, we must also demand an end to occupational segregation. One of the policy solutions recommended in the “CAP 20 Occupational Segregation in America” report was that the government at all levels address the issue by raising the floor and making the ceiling more accessible.

We must improve the quality of jobs, especially those where marginalized workers are overrepresented. It’s important to ensure that jobs are not undervalued because of the workers in that sector. To achieve this, we should consider increasing minimum wages, improving access to collective bargaining, and providing better protections for workers.

Another important recommendation, discussed in the report, is to ensure that all workers have access to paid medical and family leave. We also need to diversify high-quality jobs to give underrepresented workers more opportunities to succeed. This can be achieved by providing fair access to education, workforce development programs, and apprenticeships.

Additionally, we should consider implementing laws to ensure fair pay, setting goals for employers to hire equitably, and enforcing measures to prevent harassment and discrimination.

Every honest job is valuable, regardless of the position. However, open borders that displace American workers and occupational segregation lead to wealth gaps, lower wages, hinder economic growth, and jeopardize a sense of dignity.

— Danette Mitchell is a social issues advocate and 2022 Women of the Year Congressional Award Recipient. E-mail: damitchell@earthlink.net