I read your article about Black unemployment, and it made me wonder where I stand as a 27-year-old Black male college graduate in America. I graduated with my degree in media studies in 2010 and cannot land a career or a job. Yesterday I interviewed for a car cleaning service and they did not hire me. I am not sure what’s going on, but if I cannot land a car cleaning job that requires a high school diploma–and I have a B.A.–then that’s extremely bad.

I understand the proper way to dress. I have a selection of suits I purchased for interviews and I am a clean-cut guy. BUT NOTHING IS WORKING.

I see a lot of my college friends who are Black going through the same issues. I have never been arrested, and I was born and raised in East New York, Brooklyn. I have been in a relationship with my girlfriend for six years, and I want to get married and start a family; but I feel like there’s an invisible ceiling that’s holding me down. I don’t want to be that stereotypical African-American male that’s portrayed daily in the media. At this point, I’m clueless on what to do.

Can someone please give me some insight on how I can better my situation?

Thank you!

Clifton Powell Jr., unemployed media studies graduate