In Thomas Sowell's Basic Economics, page 230 he talks about labour participation rates being higher for black workers compared to whites. (Chapter 11: Minimum Wage Laws). On page 232 (same chapter) unemployment rates were also lower for blacks (in 1930s). In other parts of the book (Chapter 24) he talks about how even with discrimination laws black and Jewish workers were hired over whites.
It's because they were cheaper. So in terms of working more and having lower unemployment, there's a good argument that blacks were more industrious.
In Thomas Sowell's Basic Economics, page 230 he talks about labour participation rates being higher for black workers compared to whites. (Chapter 11: Minimum Wage Laws). On page 232 (same chapter) unemployment rates were also lower for blacks (in 1930s). In other parts of the book (Chapter 24) he talks about how even with discrimination laws black and Jewish workers were hired over whites.
It's because they were cheaper. So in terms of working more and having lower unemployment, there's a good argument that blacks were more industrious.