The Federal Workforce: A Lifeline for Black Americans Under Threat
For generations, the federal government has served as a crucial pathway to the middle class for Black Americans, offering stable employment, opportunities for advancement, and a chance to build a better life. This legacy, forged in the face of systemic racism and limited opportunities in the private sector, is now under threat as mass layoffs and policy changes reshape the landscape of federal employment.
Denise Smith’s story exemplifies the transformative power of federal service. Beginning her career as a Navy intern during the Nixon administration, Smith dedicated over three decades to human resources leadership within the Navy before transitioning to the Energy Department. Her government career provided stability and opportunities for her family, allowing them to buy a home, raise five children, and send three to college. Smith credits her time in the federal civil service for enabling her family to live out their American Dream. She also helped aspiring Black professionals find government jobs, including her husband Jesse, an Army veteran.
The federal government, as the nation’s largest single employer, has historically been more inclusive of Black workers than the private sector. This has contributed to the rise of a Black middle class and the establishment of thriving Black communities in major cities like New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, and Washington, D.C. In fact, Washington, D.C. consistently boasts one of the highest median incomes for Black households nationally.
Marc Morial, president and CEO of the National Urban League, emphasizes the crucial role of the federal government in empowering Black Americans. He notes that progress has been made within civil service positions over the past several decades, benefiting both the nation and individuals seeking upward mobility.
A study by the University of California at Berkeley’s Labor Center revealed that Black workers in the public sector earn significantly more than their counterparts in the private sector, highlighting the economic advantage of federal employment for Black professionals.
However, recent policy shifts and mass layoffs, initiated by the Trump administration and supported by figures like Elon Musk, pose a significant threat to this progress. The stated aim of streamlining government and reducing waste has resulted in the elimination of thousands of federal jobs, disproportionately impacting Black workers.
Jennifer Holmes, deputy director of litigation at the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, voices concern that these attacks on federal workers will have an acute and disproportionate impact on Black federal workers. The statistics support this assertion: while Black Americans make up approximately 12% of the total population and 13% of the non-government workforce, they represent a significant 19% of federal government employees.
Janice Lee, a recent retiree from the U.S. Department of Transportation, describes her public service career as a path to stability. Having witnessed her father’s journey from a busboy to a federal employee, she expresses dismay at the current state of the country. Lee believes that the layoffs are a way to defund Black people as a whole.
Historically, the federal government had more progressive hiring and retention practices than private enterprises even amid the rising tide of racial segregation in the late 19th Century, as a massive influx of Black workers flocked into Washington, D.C., after emancipation. However, the situation deteriorated after the 1912 presidential election, when Woodrow Wilson implemented strict segregation rules in federal workplaces.
Civil rights activists are drawing parallels between historical injustices and contemporary policies, citing the dismantling of diversity and equity programs, the rescinding of a 1965 executive order prohibiting discriminatory employment practices for government contractors, and the elimination of agencies focused on minority business development as troubling signs.
The potential privatization of the U.S. Postal Service raises further concerns about the impact on Black federal workers, who have historically held a significant presence within the postal service.
As civil rights groups contemplate legal challenges against the mass layoffs, the impact on Black communities remains a central concern. The NAACP Legal Defense Fund reports that many of the departments targeted by the administration have the highest percentage of Black employees.
Quay Crowner, daughter of Denise and Jesse Smith, is one of the many federal employees who have lost their jobs due to the recent layoffs. After more than 30 years of service, including supervisory positions within the Education Department, Crowner was put on administrative leave and ultimately forced to leave her position. Crowner’s mission was to help students find money to attend college or trade school, distributing federal grants, loans, and work-study funding to millions of students.
Crowner laments the loss of opportunity and the potential end to her family’s legacy of federal service. While her daughter plans to pursue a career in law, Crowner remains committed to public service and finding new ways to contribute to her community.
The stories of Denise Smith, Janice Lee, and Quay Crowner paint a vivid picture of the vital role the federal government has played in empowering Black Americans and fostering economic opportunity. The current wave of layoffs and policy changes threatens to unravel decades of progress, leaving Black communities vulnerable and undermining the promise of equal opportunity for all.
