Economics professor and former Governor of the Federal Reserve Board Andrew F. Brimmer has observed that between 1969 and 1976, and more particularly during the most recent five years,

"[T]he distribution of money income in the United States has become more unequal, and economic equity has deteriorated."

He asserts that within that period,

"...income has been redistributed so as to favor whites versus Blacks; better versus the poor; and the newer regions of the country versus the old."

These data indicate the recent change and current status of Black Americans as follows:

*Median income of Black families, having reached 61 per cent of white median in 1969, fell back to 58 per cent in 1974.

*Unemployment among Blacks was 13.9 per cent in 1975, compared to 8.9 per cent for all persons reported.

*Between 1960 and 1970, several millions of Black people rose above the federally-estimated poverty level. However, between 1969 and 1974, only 81,000 additional Black people broke out of the poverty cycle.

One writer has observed that while our entire group faces a pressing need, the economic situation with respect to Black teenagers, women and older people is desperate. He declares that for these persons:

"...job prospects and economic status have not advanced in step with the rest of American society. The position of Black teenagers has worsened in the past 15 years.

"In 1960, the jobless rate for black youths was 45.5 per cent. It declined to 29.1 per cent in 1970, but jumped to 38 per cent in 1975.

"Young blacks have traditionally held jobs in urban centers and related to service and retail industries. But in recent years, these employers have been relocating toward the suburbs, leaving black youth behind in the central core.

"For black women, the period from 1964 to 1970 was one of great economic progress, as a large number moved out of low-income, unskilled jobs in private households and farm work, and succeeded in becoming clerical and technical workers. Clerical occupations, however, are at the lower end of white-collar work; thus, black women have been particularly susceptible during the 1974-5 recession to layoffs and involuntary part-time employment.

"Older blacks have also been left behind, perhaps because they could not benefit from the rising educational levels, as have young blacks. By 1969, 30.5 per cent of all non-whites 65 years or older were still illiterate. In 1973, 25.5 per cent of all non-whites 55 to 64 years old earned less than $2500 per year; this income applied to only 8.1 per cent of whites the same age. Poverty remains rampant in the older black community. In 1974, the number of blacks classified as living below the poverty level was 36.4 per cent for those aged 65 or older, and 41.9 per cent for older black women.

Facing the reality of economic inequity and its somber side-effects, I am sure that Rev. King would urge the following: