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Minorities See Little Benefit From BP Oil Spill Jobs

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Ever since the BP oil spill disaster began, a glut of contracts and jobs has surfaced. But who is benefiting? If you got an oil spill contract from the federal government, more than likely you are white. If you’re not white, and you’re fortunate enough to be working in the oil cleanup, then you’re likely to be involved in the more hazardous jobs, according to organizations monitoring the situation on the ground.

An NAACP investigation by staff who toured the Gulf of Mexico and interviewed residents and workers concluded that, “Community members and business owners [of color] have been locked out of access to contracts for cleanup and other opportunities related to addressing this disaster.” In a letter from NAACP President Benjamin Jealous to BP CEO Tony Hayward, the civil rights organization noted that “contractors of color are not receiving equal consideration for opportunities to participate in mitigation efforts.”

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