The Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic has had a major impact on not just the United States of America but the entire globe. It especially has had a major impact on the African American community. The question now is what are the lessons that we can learn from this pandemic to make the African American community better from this? Those lessons from this and how we can make the lives for African Americans as well as all communities of color better once the COVID-19 Pandemic subsides were discussed on the latest edition of “#NBATogether.”
Via video chat, Caron Butler who played 13 years in the NBA with the Miami Heat, Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers, Washington Wizards, Dallas Mavericks, Milwaukee Bucks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Detroit Pistons and Sacramento Kings in partnership with the National Urban League led a virtual roundtable discussion on how the COVID-19 Pandemic has impacted the African American community with Hall of Famer and colleague at NBATV/TNT Grant Hill; former White House Senior Adviser under former President Barak Obama Valerie Jarrett, now the senior adviser to the Obama Foundation; and Marc Morial, The President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Urban League.
As the panel discussion began, Butler, a two-time All-Star during his NBA career brought the point that even before the Coronavirus, African Americans have had to deal with segregation and discrimination, and the people in power underinvesting in them. That has led to those minority owned businesses like the barbershop or your local convenient story being closed or struggling to survive because of a lack of access to emergency funding and other necessities that are significant to how they can continue to function.
As Mr. Morial put it, Black owned businesses are the “heartbeat” of many communities, that reflect the “hopes; the dreams; the aspirations” of individuals and families as well as the fabric of Black America.
“Today, Black owned businesses like many small businesses are facing tremendous odds, tremendous challenges,” Mr. Morial, the former Democratic Mayor of New Orleans, LA said.
Morial also said that of the 2.5 million Black owned businesses in the U.S. and about 90 percent of them have an average of just one employee, proprietor, shareholder, and stockholder. In comparison, the remaining 250,000 Black owned businesses have an average of nine employees each.
This problem for minority owned businesses was supposed to be rectified by the $484 billon in additional federal funding for coronavirus, which also included $310 billion that was supposed to be for small businesses as part of the Paycheck Protection Program passed in late April.
Unfortunately, the initial fund of $349 billion that was earmarked by Congress ran out in just 13 days according to “Forbes,” which was a big blow to Black owned businesses that were unable to take advantage of getting that funding in the First-Round and has made it critical that they are able to get that funding in the Second-Round.
Mr. Morial said that he his hopeful that changes were made in that Second-Round of funding that will include a carving out for community lending institutions in minority owned banks to give those business a better chance of access for banks to give the opportunity for minority owned business access to that Congressional funding.
He did say that many members of Legislative body in Washington, D.C. are “aligned” with the National Urban League in pushing “hard” for more opportunities to get at the $100 billion available.
“My message to Black owned businesses, small non-profits and churches is, ‘There’s still money available.’ Take advantage of it if you’re a minority owned bank. The community development lending institution to participate in this program.”
Beyond how this pandemic has impacted the minority business community, it has also put a strain on African American women from maintaining their household; making sure their kids are taking care of their schoolwork through social learning through their electronic devices and being able to work if they can from home.
Jarrett, who was the chairperson of the White House Council for Women/Girls during the Obama Administration said that even before COVID-19 came into our lives African American women were likely the main financial provider for their family, with that percentage being at 67 percent.
If you happen to be one of the women who is now unemployed because of the pandemic and have no way to provide food for their children and funding to pay their expenses like their home, and the light bill.
On top of that, it is women that are the “essential” workers during this pandemic from those that are working in the grocery store, restaurant, or meat packing plant. The doctors and nurses working in the hospital. The Emergency Medical Technicians going out on calls to assists those sicken by COVID-19 or are working in a nursing home who are often paid the lowest wage.
“Since some of the benefits of the packages that went through Congress don’t provide important benefits to those essential workers, they’re left out in the cold,” Jarrett, Distinguished Senior Fellow at the University of Chicago Law School said. “Often these low wage jobs that do not have benefits fall disproportionately on African American women, women of color. And so, the stresses that we were already experiencing are greatly exacerbated by the current situation.”
The solution to this according to Professor Jarrett is for all of us putting the heat from a figurative sense on our legislative leaders in D.C. to be more thoughtful and responsible in how they appropriate the next round of funding so it can reach those that need it the most like, communities of color and the businesses that exist in those communities.
One business that has been greatly affected by the pandemic has been the hospitality industry, which includes restaurants and hotels, where the employees mostly consists of women of color.
Then there is the many health issues that has been a part of the lives of minorities for generations. So much so that there is the expression that when our nation gets a cold, the Black community gets pneumonia.
According to a CNN.com story from May 6 the U.S. Census Bureau reported that Black Americans make up 13.4 percent of the American population but their study found that they make up over 50 percent of the COVID-19 cases and nearly 60 percent of deaths.
It is one of the reasons when Obama Administration constructed the Affordable Care Act, which has become known as “Obama Care,” it included research on the health disparities of diseases between minorities and other Americans in the U.S. from heart disease, high blood pressure, hypertension. Those diseases are also the reason why minorities, particularly African Americans have died at a higher rate from the pandemic.
“So, as we emerge from this, it’s important that we start thinking through how we close those gaps that we know exist for women and girls of color,” Professor Jarrett said. “And how do we make sure that we come out of this not going back to where we were but actually stronger.”
The other thing that this pandemic has brought to light is the fact that the median White family has roughly ten times the wealth the median Black family has. This pandemic has seemed to widen that gap where many black and brown families are as mentioned in a struggle to have the basic necessities of life like a roof over their head, health care, technology like a computer and even childcare.
Hill and his wife, Grammy nominated singer Tamia recently launched an effort to provide millions of meals to those struggling families of need in Central Florida.
The seven-time All-Star who played for the Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns and Clippers in his 18-year NBA career said that the world is in the midst of a “fire” because of this pandemic, which has “burned” severely many in its way, including putting 36 million U.S. citizens on the unemployment line. Prevented four million people from paying their rent in April. It also has brought the number to one out of every five kids do not have access to food.
“The most pressing need is food and shelter,” Hill, a three-time NBA Sportsmanship Award recipient said. “It’s disturbing and it’s alarming that, you know, our federal government has not been there to step up and provide for all of America.”
“And let’s be honest. There’s a segment of those who are suffering who are White Middle America. People who have supported this a [Trump] administration, even prior to COVID-19. They had unemployment and Opioid addiction, and a high suicide rate. Had a feeling of no hope. And so, the very administration that they’re supporting is not truly supporting them in a time of need.”
Besides dealing with COVID-19, the African American community has to deal with the ongoing injustice, trauma, and violence in our nation with the deaths of Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor.
Arbery, 25 was killed in broad daylight on the open road near Brunswick, GA a little over 10 weeks ago by a white man, who was a retired ex-policeman and his son.
Taylor, 26 died on Mar. 14 after three Louisville Kentucky Police officers fired shots into her home as they were serving a search warrant.
Butler said after seeing a video of the shooting of Arbery from his 20-year-old son Caron Butler, Jr. that he had “no” answers for him.
“I was just so hurt and we cried talking about the situation,” Butler said about the passing of Arbery.
Mr. Morial, who also has a son, an 18-year-old named Mason with wife Michelle Miller, national correspondent for CBS News said those two losses “shocked” his conscience and the conscience of anyone that cares about fairness and justice in our nation.
“Ahmaud Arbery should not have died. He should not have died. He was not doing anything wrong. And all of the tapes and evidence indicate that he was a victim of vigilante justice. A cold-blooded murder,” Morial said.
More than anything according to Morial, the killing of Arbery has specifically exposed is the “out-and-out” corruption in both the County of South Georgia Police Department and Prosecutors Offices. He also said that it exposed the existence of a “mentality” that a Black person is supposed to answer to his Caucasian counterpart who he has no association with as if we were back in the year 1850.
Professor Jarrett is all to familiar with this kind of injustice in the eight years she worked for President Obama when he had to speak out when there has been a shooting at a school or when a minority is killed unnecessarily and having to answer for the misguided fears of Black men, especially young Black men to White Americans.
Jarrett mentioned how President Obama, the father to two daughters Malia and Sasha with his wife Michelle saying with tears in his eyes that if he had a son he would like Trayvon Martin, the 17-year-old Floridian who life was taken in Sanford, FL by George Zimmerman on Feb. 26, 2012.
“It was designed to try to elicit some empathy so that people can imagine what it is like to raise your children in this environment of trauma,” she said of the divide of our nation’s cultures. “I now have a 10-month old black and brown grandson, and I look at the world through his lens.”
Jarrett added that a young African American can be out with their Caucasian counterparts but will always have to carry their self with a levelheaded focus of respecting the police at all times. Never speaking back when they feel they have been wronged, even though their Caucasian counterparts might and not be punished, possibly killed.
This kind of trauma has also played a major role in the poor mental health that minorities have faced for a long time in our country, especially when the perpetrators involved in these senseless acts are not brought to justice.
Even for someone like Hill, who is well known and has lived a very productive 47 years on this Earth.
The father of two daughters Myla Grace and Lael Rose, ages 18 and 12 respectably says that not a single days passes that he is reminded that he is an African American from meeting the driver in the cul-de-sac to get the food he order for his family and will they be threaten. Jogging down the street to get exercise, like Arbery was doing before he was killed and approaching a Caucasian woman wondering if she him as a threat.
“So, these are daily stressors that I think we all go through, even if you have success. And even if you achieved the American dream so to speak,” Hill, the son of former NFL running back Calvin Hill and his wife Janet said. “In our impoverished, this is everyday part of life. And yes, these stressors are real, and I think part of what will help is having some justice. Knowing that our government system works. And when there’s a crime, those who commit it will be punished.”
The National Urban League led by Morial said that they have acknowledged at their 90 affiliate sites across the nation importance of Mental Health to African American communities setting a program called Project Wellness, which was set up to aid in the destigmatize this issue in the Black community and getting help and assistance is something they should be hesitant or afraid to go to a psychiatrist or psychologist to get their mind healthy.
That will be especially necessary when it comes to Black and Brown communities in getting through the COVID-19 Pandemic and the fears of what might happen if they get it and what can happen to that person.
The fear of possibly getting sick to the point you could die or someone close to you like a friend or family member catching it elsewhere or possibly from you and they die.
Then there is the individual economic impact to where you could no longer go to work, which could lead to you getting fired and losing your income.
The stress on our children not being in school learning and being away from their classmates/friends and teachers.
Not being able if you are a high school or college senior, or being in your last year of middle or elementary school and have those crowning moment in that last year of prom, that last class trip, yearbook signings or being able to graduate with your friends alongside of you and your family in the stands cheering your greatest accomplishments.
As Jarrett said that until the minority community as a whole is comfortable coming forward saying that “we need help,” it will not happen.
“Democracies are based on the rule of law. The equal application of that rule of law.” she added. “And if we feel that we are not going to get justice and what happens to us people are not going to held accountable, that adds to the trauma and stress as well. And I think we have to tell our stories, and we have to share what’s going on because otherwise how does anybody know.”
“We’ve all known that there were health disparities in the Black community. But most of America didn’t until we started looking at the data with the COVID-19.”
Morial echoed that same sentiment by saying our nation needs to be “bold” and “imaginative,” coupled with the right leadership is how real change will take place.
That change will not take place though unless we all take individual and collective responsibility of bridging this divide in not just our nation but the world.
We all have to understand that we each play a role in how we come out on the better side of this pandemic and how we put in the necessary work to become better moving forward.
A big part of that is the Caucasian community having those uncomfortable conversations about racism and sexism that has been prevalent in our nation for many years.
How many years ago in the South when African American were peacefully protesting and how they were attacked by the police and protesters in favor of keeping things divided.
It takes the media and those that want things to change showing via the news, social media, the internet, and every possible platform to make people aware of the injustice that is happening, especially during this pandemic.
What is also important to understand is that not all of White America might think with the same mindset. That they do care about the injustice that minority communities face because they can have conversations with their opposite counterparts. Thoughtful and responsible conversations.
“We can’t be afraid to build the right alliances but also to stand up to those who would bully the conversation because they want to suppress it,” Morial said about breaching the great American divide. “Because the suppression of the conversation for years never made it better. Only made it worse. And that’s why these conversations have to take place.”
Breaching this divide seems to always begin and end at the ballot box meaning, it is important to vote not just at the federal level like now when it comes to the Presidential and Congress. It matters who you choose to vote for at the state level and at the local level.
It also means getting involved in a campaign whether it is stuffing envelopes that contain information on a certain candidate. Volunteering to knock on doors to let people know about who a certain candidate is and what their plan is to make your community and state better.
For a household, filling out the U.S. Census, which will allow how many people can represent your state at the federal level in Congress. The funding that can be allocated to help fix the roads in your communities. Provide funding to make your local schools and colleges more up to date in terms of books and technology.
Throughout history, it has taken people whether meeting in a room or virtually via Zoom now to have discussions to formulate a plan to take on some of the greatest challenges we have had in our history like racism.
The Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic has forced our nation because of the disproportionate impact it has had particularly on minority communities to find a way to come together to face this pandemic and all the underlying issues and problems that for a long time have been swept under the rug to be brought into the light.
It does not matter if you are wealthy or hanging on by a thread, this pandemic has had an impact on all of us. The only way we will have a better future across the board following this and beyond is coming together, having some real unapologetic, uncomfortable conversations about the great racial divide in our country and come up with tangible, logical and powerful solutions that will breach this divide.
It is one thing to have this kind of discussion like Caron Butler, Marc Morial, Grant Hill, and Valerie Jarrett had. Those discussions have to be backed up by actions from the leaders we have in Washington to our state and at the local level, to us as individuals.
Information and quotations are courtesy of 4/22/2020 www.forbes.com story, “Congress Approved More Funding for The Paycheck Protection Program. Here’s What You Need to Know,” by Kelly Anne Smith; 5/6/2020 www.cnn.com story “Black Communities Account For Disproportionate Number of COVID-19 Deaths In The US, Study Finds,” by Shelby Lin Erdman; 5/6/2020 www.binginews.com story “Part 2 *Leaked*: Ahmaud Arbery Shooting Death Photos; 5/14/2020 www.wlky.com story, “LMPD Says Its Investigation Surrounding Breonna Taylor’s Death Is Nearly Complete;” 5/21/2020 8:30 p.m. edition of NBATV’s “#NBATogether: Virtual Roundtable;” https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki_Grant_Hill; https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marc_Morial; and https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caron_Butler.
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