For seven months, we’ve been discussing who are the most influential people to have ever lived. In the midst of all of this epic research, we decided to do pivot pieces on things in current popular culture that can have a tremendous impact on our everyday lives. Well, this writing is no different. We’re currently living in a World where everyone is struggling to get by. Why is that? Well, there are a plethora of reasons for that. The Global Economy sucks! Inflation is up, but according to CNBC it has “slowed.” Oh and not to mention the cost of living and the lack of increase in federal minimum wage. But we’re going to discuss all of this as we talk about The College Blues, The Graduate “Journey.”
What Are “The College Blues?”
Coined by Omega Psi Phi’s Slimothy Jenkins, Jr. (all hail Brotha Dawg), The College Blues is defined as a graduate who departed college and is having a difficult time adjusting to professional life. To further explain the context of the phrase, in simpler terms, college graduates are having a harder time finding adequate employment in these trying times in the United States. What do we mean by adequate? Simply put, graduates are settling for employment that only barely meets their basic needs. But getting even these jobs is proving to be difficult. The reason why? MOST corporations have gimmicked their hiring by incorporating the experience expectations of their applicants. Thus making it harder for graduates to even find jobs as associates at places like Wal-Mart, Target, and even warehouse assembly lines.
Graduating to Unemployment
A recent article from The Washington Post states that the unemployment rate for recent graduates is at 4.1 percent. While this has improved by .03% since the holiday season, it isn’t saying much as summer is typically “peak season” in most markets. This is listed as higher than overall joblessness. If you’re out there keeping score, the are 6.8 million people who are jobless in this supposed “land of opportunity.” If the college graduates make up 4.1 percent of that figure, it’ll tally up to 278,800. While this may not seem bad, it is if you take into consideration the average of people who attend a college or university.
What is that Average? A survey conducted by the U.S. News & World Report found that the average of amount students that attend a college or university is 6,354. What can this “Great Nation” of ours do to make the job market for graduates worth investing in? Well, that’s simple, STOP WORRYING ABOUT FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND FOCUS ON THE DAMN PEOPLE THAT RESIDE IN THESE UNITED STATES!
Inflation vs. Minimum Wage
Now, let’s chat about two things that just don’t match. A bit of context before we continue. The federal minimum wage in America went from $6.55 to $7.25 on 24 July 2009. Now let’s talk popular culture for a second, just 29 days before the minimum wage increase, we lost two of the world’s greatest entertainers, Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson. Oh yeah and how can we forget when Kanye interrupted Taylor just 51 days into the minimum wage increase? You see where we’re going with this?
What has our “wonderful nation” done since the federal minimum wage has been raised to $7.25? Only constantly increase the cost of living post-Obama Administration. Oh and overwork employees, while not properly compensating them. But the federal minimum wage has remained $7.25 for the last 15 years. What has happened since? Well, from 2017-2018 inflation had a slow rise at 2.4 percent. By 2022, inflation had risen to 8.5%. What’s all affected by this? Rent, food, toiletries, child care, etc. For further context, the minimum wage would typically increase by increments of $.60 – .$70 in between two to five years. Let’s use the two-year increase for the sake of argument since we live in an expensive climate. If wages would increase by 70 cents starting in 2009, then it would be $12.15 as of 2023. But, as we all know, it’s seemingly stuck. Be mindful of who you guys are voting for.
Where Do We Go From Here?
That’s an excellent question. With Joe Biden recently removing himself from the presidential election, that leaves us with Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. If you’re like so many others who are tired of both sides’ lies and garbage, and the Independent Nominee, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. What can we do as a nation? Well, we the people have stood up in the face of government before (i.e. The Civil Rights Movement, The Woman’s Suffrage Movement, The LGBTQ Community, etc.), and it resulted in change. They’ll only get away with what we the people allow. Now, this isn’t a rally to call for violence, no. But this is a call for each and every last one of us to govern ourselves and get ourselves out of one of the biggest recessions in US History.
