AFRICANGLOBE – Despite President Obama having above 90 percent job approval among Blacks, just 62 percent are optimistic that the job outlook will improve over the next four years, according to a new poll.

The poll, conducted by presidential critic and former BET founder Bob Johnson, indicates that 91 percent of Black Americans have a favorable view of the first Black president.

Still, that overwhelming approval does not directly translate to the economy.

“Seventy-two percent believe that President Obama’s election has helped them while only 4 percent believe his election has hurt them,” according to a new release by Johnson’s RLJ enterprises.

I commissioned this poll for a number of reasons,” said Johnson. “First, for African Americans, this country has experienced the most historic political event and that is the election and re-election of the first African American president, Barack Obama.

Because of this, I wanted to find out how African Americans today feel about Obama’s presidency and equally important, if they feel that their lives are better off having lived under the first four years of Obama and the prospect of an Obama Administration for the next four years,” he continued.

“Second, the country has experienced the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression and African Americans have been the hardest hit.

Today, African Americans continue to have double the rate of unemployment and less access to capital, and whereas, African Americans were once the largest ethnic minority group and the dominant minority political voice, they are now confronted with the growing political influence of the Hispanic population, which may directly impact competition for jobs and minority business opportunities,” he continued.

“Further, I wanted to create a discussion within the Black community and the broader community to bring to the forefront of public debate key issues of primary concern to African Americans. I am pleased to say that I am intrigued by the results of the poll and I believe better informed,” he noted.

The Black unemployment rate is near 14 percent, according to a recent report by the U.S. Department of Labor. The February rate appears locked at 13.8 percent, according to the department. The January rate was also at 13.8 percent, which is close to a 14 percent high in December. The black unemployment rate is about double the white rate of 6.8 percent. The overall rate was down from to 7.8 percent to 7.7 percent.

The telephone and online poll of 1,002 African-Americans was conducted by John Zogby and Zogby Analytics.

Source: http://www.africanglobe.net/headlines/obama-popularity-blacks-translate-jobs/