Krystie Nelloms
President Barack Obama and the Unemployed: Long Lines for Job Fair Reflects Prolonged Economic Spiral
President Barack Obama is in Washington applying various economic tools to try to jump-start the American marketplace …
Meanwhile,
thousands of job seekers wrapped around the gargantuan Turner Field in
Atlanta. Many waited as long at two hours under the oppressive and
unforgiving summer sun — the temperatures were in the mid-‘90s with no
clouds — in order to climb to the top of the cavernous stadium and into
the 755 Club at Turner Field in order to meet prospective employers.
Many had anxious expressions pasted on their faces — no doubt the
result of weeks and months of looking for steady employment as well as
trying to shield themselves from the tortuous heat.
Most offering
jobs and careers inside Turner Field were government employers,
including the U.S. Department of Justice (Federal Bureau of Prisons),
the U.S. Department of the Treasury (the Secret Service), the U.S.
Department of Labor and the Georgia Department of Labor. Also present
were branches of the U.S. Department of Defense: The Navy and the
Marine Corp. Also seeking workers were Dominos Pizza, Heineken, Aflac
and Liberty National. –terry shropshire
How long have you been unemployed?
I’ve been unemployed for a month and a half now.
What type of experience do you have?
I have experience in towing, driving, sales. I have experience [in
doing] upholstery, moving furniture, redecorating.
How do you go about looking for a job?
You know what? If it wasn’t for the job fair, I would be catching the
bus, looking everywhere right now. Thank God for the job fair. It
really saved me a lot of time looking for a job and being in the hot
sun.
How do you keep yourself groomed and prepared for a job interview?
You do what you have to do to keep your appearance up. You might have
certain people who might help you, look out for you or whatever.
What
do you think about first lady Michelle Obama? Do you think she has any
responsibility to black women as it relates to healthcare and
unemployment?
I really don’t know … Michelle Obama … I just say she’s the woman behind the man.
How do you define success?
I define success by getting up every morning and doing whatever you
have to do to be successful at the end of the day, whether you didn’t
find a job or whether you did find a job … at least you’re getting out
and doing something with your life, that’s success to me to.
Do you Twitter?
No.
Are you on Facebook?
No. I’m on the Internet.
