A story making big waves today:  the New York Times analyzes the impact of the automotive industry's decline on the livelihood of African-Americans, especially those without college degrees.  Politico's "Huddle" calls it "a big idea" story.  Mary Chapman's excellent reporting in the Times draws heavily on research conducted by the Economic Policy Institute. Lost in the debate over the rescue package for the Big Three is the fact that millions of Americans--and hundreds of thousands of African-Americans--depend on a healthy auto industry for income and a path to the middle class.  More than 18 months ago, the Alliance for American Manufacturing published a fact sheet on the importance of manufacturing jobs for minorities in the U.S. As we move forward next year, it's worth remembering that the people impacted the most by the ups and downs of the automotive industry are not corporate executives, but rather the folks who take a lunch pail to work, punch a clock, and work hard day in and day out, striving to make a better life for their family.