So much for CBS’s introduction. Cut to the interviews conducted by Mark Strassman who was in Ferguson. Strassman started out by noting the unemployment rate in Ferguson for black males ages 22 – 24 is a staggering 46%.
As I listened to his interview with three young black men, it was hard not to see the irony of them complaining about the lack of opportunity in a town where countless businesses were just looted.
And it was sad and frustrating to realize these men, with their tattoos, large diamond earrings, and an unprofessional manner of speech appeared to have little insight into how these factors impact one’s chances of being hired.
In addition, at the end of the interview, Strassman spoke with John Vons (I’m not sure I heard Strassman pronounce the last name correctly, so I apologize if I got it wrong), a former gang member who serves “as a bridge between protestors and the police.” Vons spoke about various entry level skills people in the community have such as cleaning, painting, mowing lawns, and the like. He ended by saying: “Give us those jobs. Set it up to where we can get those jobs.”
I could feel Von’s frustration and perhaps even desperation. It’s awful to be able-bodied, willing to work, but unable to find a job. At the same time, I was puzzled as to what he had in mind. It sounded as if he expected someone to show up in Ferguson with jobs to give away. Among other things, I was unclear as to who he thought was supposed to “set it up” and how that worked.
The piece ended with Strassman behaving like a trained seal. As Vons finished his thoughts, Strassman chimed in like a politically correct robot: “No jobs, no peace.” To which the former gang member said, “No jobs, no peace. Period.”
So much for being a bridge builder.