Story from The Tavis Smiley Show. Use audio player above to listen to entire interview.

While the national unemployment rate currently hovers around 9.1%, the number of African Americans without jobs has now hit depression-era levels at 16.2%, according to a recent CBS News report. Afrian American males have a higher divide at 17.5%.

Economist Dr. Julianne Malveaux discussed the reasons behind the increasing disparities in a recent interview with Tavis Smiley. She says African Americans are less likely to have college educations, are in more vulnerable blue-collar and manufacturing jobs, and do not have easy access to transportation. In addition, she says, African Americans still face racial discrimination.

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“The Tavis Smiley Show” is a weekly show offering a unique blend of news and newsmakers in expanded conversations, along with feature reports and regular commentators. “The Tavis Smiley Show” is produced by Tavis Smiley productions, and distributed nationwide by PRI.