The national economic debate has focused on the divide between Main Street and Wall Street. But nobody seems to talk about the crisis on Martin Luther King Boulevard and Cesar Chavez Avenue.

Last week’s unemployment numbers show the depth of economic crisis in communities of color. The jobless rate among blacks is nearly double that among whites (16.1% versus 8.7%). More than one in four Latinos now live in poverty. The recession is not colorblind.

For Week 3 of the Race and America’s Future Virtual Book Club, we look at how race and the economy interact. Today’s starter questions:

1. What do you think explains the persistent economic gap between white people and people of color?

2. What would you like to see President Obama do to address the economic needs of people of color?

Thank you for joining the conversation today.

– Manuel Pastor

 Join a virtual book club discussion to address this and other issues raised by this book.  Manuel Pastor is a co-author of Uncommon Common Ground: Race and America's Future and is professor of Geography and American Studies & Ethnicity at the University of Southern California. Pastor currently directs the Program for Environmental and Regional Equity at USC.   PolicyLink has become a leading voice in the movement to use public policy to improve access and opportunity for all low-income people and communities of color, particularly in the areas of health, housing, transportation, education, and infrastructure. This book proposes an "equity framework" that helps us to go beyond "racial equality" to become more effective advocates for "racial equity."

This book welcomes those of good will to engage in a conversation about the future of America.