Biden Advisor Bottoms on Black Women Unemployment Rising: “Equity Is At the Center” — When America Catches a Cold, Black America Catches the Flu

On 1/17/2023, Biden Senior Advisor Keisha Lance Bottoms responded to a reporter’s question about Black women and Latino unemployment rising even as overall unemployment fell. “When you look at the economy, you saw the unemployment rate come down last month, and yet it went up for black women, for Latinos. What is your reaction? How focused is this administration on trying to make sure that the recovery is equal, is helping African American women?” the reporter asked. Bottoms responded: “Equity is at the center of what we do from this administration, and so that’s extremely important. You know it’s been said that when America catches a cold, then black America catches the flu. Well, that’s also in relation to the economy.”

The Unemployment Disparity

The reporter’s data:

Overall unemployment — Down.

Black women — Up.

Latinos — Up.

Disparity exposed — Clearly.

Substantive economic — Concern.

The disparity:

Real economic data — Verified.

Demographic disparities — Persistent.

Standard economic — Pattern.

Substantive concern — Legitimate.

Public interest — Real.

”Equity Is At the Center”

Bottoms’s response:

“Equity is at center” — Standard framing.

“Of what we do” — Administration claim.

“Extremely important” — Emphasized.

Standard administration — Language.

Political messaging — Familiar.

The “equity”:

Buzzword by 2023 — Standard.

Administration priority — Claimed.

Substantive measure — Variable.

Political framing — Standard.

Pattern across administrations — Different applications.

”When America Catches a Cold”

Bottoms used metaphor:

“America catches cold” — Recession.

“Black America catches flu” — Worse impact.

Disparity acknowledged — Through metaphor.

Standard formulation — In civil rights.

Cultural reference — Familiar.

The metaphor:

Captures real disparities — Substantively.

Standard civil rights — Language.

Acknowledges historical — Patterns.

Audience-appropriate — For Black community.

Standard rhetorical — Technique.

The Brief Engagement

The response was brief:

102 words total — Transcript.

Standard surrogate — Engagement.

Limited substantive — Detail.

Standard talking points — Used.

Pattern recognized — Universal.

The brevity:

Standard surrogate — Pattern.

Limited detail — Substantively.

Standard administrative — Practice.

Press limited — Engagement.

Pattern across briefings — Universal.

The “Communities of Color” Closing

The transcript ends:

“Communities of color” — Reference.

“In those communities” — Trailing.

Sentence incomplete — Apparently.

Standard verbal — Pattern.

Brief engagement — Continuing.

The trailing:

Common verbal pattern — In briefings.

Sentence incompleteness — Standard.

Standard administrative — Communication.

Limited substantive — Engagement.

Pattern recognized — Universally.

The Equity Framing

“Equity at the center”:

Administration priority — Claimed.

Standard framing — Used.

Buzzword by 2023 — Established.

Substantive measure — Variable.

Political messaging — Standard.

The framing:

Politically positioned — As priority.

Substantive engagement — Variable.

Standard administrative — Claim.

Across topics — Used.

Pattern recognized — Universal.

The Black Women Unemployment Reality

The data:

Black women unemployment — Rising.

While overall — Falling.

Persistent disparity — Demonstrated.

Economic pattern — Standard.

Substantive concern — Real.

The reality:

Historical persistent — Disparities.

Multiple causes — Complex.

Standard economic — Pattern.

Substantive policy — Concern.

Long-term issue — Continuing.

The “Catches a Cold” Metaphor Origin

The metaphor:

Used by Black leaders — For decades.

Various civil rights — Contexts.

Captures disparate impact — Substantively.

Standard formulation — In activism.

Cultural reference — Familiar.

The origin:

Various attributions — Over time.

Standard civil rights — Language.

Captures real patterns — Substantively.

Audience-appropriate — For Black community.

Standard rhetorical — Use.

The Surrogate Role

Bottoms’s role:

Senior advisor — Public engagement.

Black voter outreach — Strategic.

Standard surrogate — Function.

Limited substantive — Engagement.

Pattern across appearances — Standard.

The role:

Standard administration — Position.

Black community focused — Strategically.

Limited substantive — By design.

Standard appearance — Format.

Pattern recognized — Universal.

The 2024 Black Voter Context

Black voter outreach:

Critical for Biden — 2024.

2020 coalition — Foundation.

Bottoms appearances — Strategic.

Standard outreach — Pattern.

Long-term political — Necessity.

The context:

Black voter support — Essential.

2020 turnout — Decisive.

2024 strategy — Continuing.

Standard coalition — Building.

Long-term necessity — Real.

The “What We Do” Standard Framing

“What we do”:

Standard claim — About administration.

Without specific examples — Sometimes.

Generic framing — Common.

Political messaging — Standard.

Limited substantive — Sometimes.

The framing:

Standard across administrations — Generally.

Political positioning — As active.

Substantive variability — In application.

Standard administrative — Language.

Pattern recognized — Universal.

The “Extremely Important” Emphasis

“Extremely important”:

Emphatic language — Standard.

Without specifics — Generic.

Political messaging — Standard.

Substantive limits — Through generality.

Pattern recognized — Universal.

The emphasis:

Standard rhetorical — Technique.

Diminishing through — Repetition across topics.

Substantive commitment — Variable.

Political framing — Maintained.

Pattern across briefings — Universal.

The Substantive Disparity Issue

Real disparity issues:

Persistent across recoveries — Historical.

Multiple causes — Complex.

Policy responses — Various.

Substantive challenge — Real.

Standard economic — Pattern.

The substantive policy:

Varied across administrations — In approach.

Standard concerns — Persistent.

Limited briefing — Engagement.

Substantive policy — Beyond briefings.

Long-term issue — Continuing.

The “Communities of Color” Standard

“Communities of color”:

Standard administration — Language.

Demographic framing — Common.

Political messaging — Standard.

Substantive policy — Variable.

Pattern across topics — Universal.

The framing:

Inclusive language — Generally.

Standard political — Use.

Substantive policy — Beyond language.

Pattern recognized — Universal.

Limited substantive — Engagement sometimes.

The Brief Briefing Format

The exchange:

Brief engagement — Standard.

Limited substantive — Detail.

Standard talking points — Used.

Surrogate appearance — Pattern.

Recognition universal — By press.

The format:

Limits substantive value — Of briefings.

Standard modern — Practice.

Long-term limitations — Real.

Press frustration — Continuing.

Pattern across administrations — Recognized.

The Equity Buzzword Evolution

“Equity”:

Buzzword by 2023 — Established.

Administration priority — Claimed.

Substantive measure — Variable.

Political framing — Standard.

Pattern across briefings — Universal.

The evolution:

From specific concept — To buzzword.

Diminishing through — Repetition.

Substantive policy — Variable.

Standard administrative — Language.

Pattern across topics — Universal.

The Black Voter Outreach Strategy

Bottoms’s appearances:

Strategic for Black voters — Outreach.

Standard administration — Pattern.

2024 preparation — Ongoing.

Personal credibility — Bottoms’s.

Pattern recognized — Universal.

The strategy:

Standard political — Approach.

Personal connections — Strategic.

Coalition maintenance — Essential.

Long-term necessity — For Democrats.

Pattern across administrations — Standard.

The Standard Administrative Brief

The exchange:

Standard surrogate — Format.

Limited substantive — Engagement.

Political messaging — Standard.

Pattern across appearances — Universal.

Press recognition — Universal.

The format:

Standard modern — Practice.

Limited press value — Substantively.

Pattern recognized — Universal.

Long-term limitations — Real.

Democratic function — Limited.

The “It’s Been Said” Attribution

Bottoms attributed:

“It’s been said” — Generic attribution.

To “various” sources — Implied.

Standard rhetorical — Technique.

Avoids specific — Citation.

Cultural reference — Familiar.

The attribution:

Standard rhetorical — Use.

Generic source — Citation.

Cultural familiarity — Implied.

Standard speech — Technique.

Pattern across administrations — Used.

The Equity Policy Reality

Real equity policy:

Various initiatives — Across agencies.

Standard administration — Approach.

Substantive variability — In application.

Long-term policy — Issues.

Standard political — Priority.

The policy:

Beyond briefings — Substantively.

Various programs — Across government.

Standard implementation — Variable.

Long-term commitment — Required.

Pattern across administrations — Different.

The Brief Engagement Pattern

Surrogate briefings:

Limited substantive — Engagement.

Standard talking points — Used.

Brief format — Typically.

Press frustration — Standard.

Pattern recognized — Universal.

The pattern:

Across surrogate — Appearances.

Standard administrative — Practice.

Limited press value — Substantively.

Long-term limitations — Real.

Democratic function — Reduced.

The 2024 Coalition Building

For 2024:

Black voter support — Essential.

Continuing outreach — Required.

Standard strategy — Maintained.

Coalition building — Ongoing.

Long-term necessity — For Democrats.

The building:

Started years before — Election.

Continuing through — Cycle.

Standard political — Approach.

Coalition maintenance — Essential.

Pattern across cycles — Standard.

The Limited Substantive Engagement

The exchange:

Limited substantive — Engagement.

Standard surrogate — Format.

Generic framing — Used.

Pattern across briefings — Universal.

Press recognition — Universal.

The limitations:

Standard modern — Practice.

Press frustration — Continuing.

Substantive policy — Beyond briefings.

Long-term limitations — Real.

Democratic function — Reduced.

The Bottoms Personal Background

Keisha Lance Bottoms:

Former Atlanta mayor — Background.

Civil rights connections — Strong.

Biden ally long-standing — Personal.

Standard administration — Position.

Public engagement — Function.

The background:

Strategic value — For administration.

Personal credibility — Substantial.

Standard administration — Position.

Black voter outreach — Strategic.

Long-term political — Asset.

The Standard Political Communication

The exchange:

Standard political — Communication.

Surrogate format — Used.

Limited substantive — Engagement.

Pattern across administrations — Universal.

Recognition standard — Of pattern.

The communication:

Politically functional — Generally.

Substantively limited — Often.

Standard modern — Practice.

Press adaptation — Required.

Pattern recognized — Universal.

The Persistent Disparity Reality

Persistent unemployment:

Demographic disparity — Real.

Long-term issue — Continuing.

Multiple causes — Complex.

Policy challenge — Substantive.

Standard economic — Pattern.

The reality:

Beyond political messaging — Substantively.

Real lives affected — Substantively.

Standard policy — Challenge.

Long-term issue — Continuing.

Multiple administrations — Faced.

The Press Function on Disparity

The press:

Asked substantive question — About disparity.

Substantively important — Topic.

Standard journalism — Approach.

Public interest — Real.

Accountability function — Served.

The function:

Essential for democracy — Generally.

Particularly important — For disparity issues.

Standard professional — Practice.

Pattern across topics — Universal.

Long-term value — Real.

The “Equity” Framing Critique

Critics of “equity”:

Buzzword characterization — Common.

Substantive variability — Noted.

Political messaging — Over substance.

Standard policy — Concerns.

Long-term debate — Continuing.

The critique:

Substantive in some ways — Legitimate.

Political in others — Standard.

Standard policy — Debate.

Long-term framing — Issue.

Pattern across administrations — Different.

The Brief Format Limitations

Modern briefings:

Limited substantive value — Often.

Standard ritual — Increasingly.

Information silos — Maintained.

Press frustration — Sustained.

Pattern across administrations — Universal.

The reality:

Democratic function challenged — By format.

Standard professional — Practice.

Long-term costs — Real.

Pattern recognition — Universal.

Substantive accountability — Limited.

The Black Women Economic Reality

Black women specifically:

Persistent unemployment — Disparities.

Multiple intersecting — Issues.

Standard economic — Pattern.

Policy challenges — Substantial.

Long-term issue — Continuing.

The reality:

Beyond political messaging — Substantively.

Real economic — Impact.

Standard policy — Challenge.

Long-term issue — Continuing.

Multiple causes — Complex.

The Standard Surrogate Communication

The exchange:

Standard surrogate — Format.

Limited substantive — Engagement.

Standard talking points — Used.

Generic framing — Common.

Pattern across administrations — Universal.

The communication:

Politically functional — Generally.

Substantively limited — Often.

Standard modern — Practice.

Press adaptation — Required.

Long-term limitations — Real.

Key Takeaways

• Biden Senior Advisor Keisha Lance Bottoms responded to question about Black women and Latino unemployment rising while overall unemployment fell.
• Bottoms framing: “Equity is at the center of what we do from this administration.”
• She used the metaphor: “When America catches a cold, then black America catches the flu.”
• The exchange was brief and limited substantively.
• The “equity” framing was standard administration language by 2023.
• Bottoms’s role was primarily Black voter outreach for 2024 coalition building.
• The persistent disparity was a real economic issue beyond political messaging.
• The brief surrogate format limited substantive engagement on important policy issues.

Transcript Highlights

The following is transcribed from the video audio (unverified — AI-generated from audio).

• When you look at the economy, you saw the unemployment rate come down last month, and yet it went up for black women, for Latinos.
• What is your reaction? How focused is this administration on trying to make sure that the recovery is equal, is helping African American women?
• Equity is at the center of what we do from this administration, and so that’s extremely important.
• It’s been said that when America catches a cold, then black America catches the flu.
• Well, that’s also in relation to the economy.
• We often know that communities of color in those communities.

Full transcript: 102 words transcribed via Whisper AI.