How was his experience of looking for work during the summer after his second year at school typical of those of many young African-Americans today?

Washington had to travel far distances to look for a job. Strikes and work stoppage affects the main sources of income where he lived, thus, he had to travel further in order to look for a job.

Toward the end of the first month, I went to a place a considerable distance from my home, to try to find employment. I did not succeed, and it was night before I got started on my return. When I had gotten within a mile or so of my home I was so completely tired out that I could not walk any farther, and I went into an old, abandoned house to spend the remainder of the night.