Although all American workers have experienced hardship as a result of the recession, labor market performance and program participation vary significantly across race, ethnic, and age groups. This brief assesses the labor market performance of young black men (ages 18 to 24) relative to men in other racial/ethnic groups during the Great Recession. Young black men had far higher unemployment rates and lower incomes than young white men. In addition, among the jobless, young black men were less likely to receive unemployment insurance and more likely to rely on means-tested public assistance than young white men.