African American unemployment at its highest level since 1984

The August jobs report released by the Labor Department on Friday painted a bleak picture about racial inequality in the jobs market. Unemployment for African Americans is now at an astounding 16.7%, its highest level since 1984. This is more than double the unemployment figure for whites, which fell slightly last month to 8%.

With President Obama set to lay out his jobs plan in a highly-anticipated speech on Thursday, what does he need to say to restore faith in the African American public about jobs?

Robert Kuttner, co-founder and co-editor of American Prospect, and C. Nicole Mason, executive director of the NYU Women of Color Policy Network, join Christine Romans today to weigh in on black unemployment in America and what can be done right now to help ease the unemployment situation.