THE NATIONAL BLACK ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE NETWORK’S

ECONOMIC JUSTICE AND FRONTLINE WORKERS STATEMENT 

The National Black Environmental Justice Network (NBEJN) stands strong on the Principles of Environmental Justice that strengthen coalitions, alliances and collaborations and commitment to fight on multiple fronts to eradicate underlying conditions that create and perpetuate disparities and vulnerability. Our platform and action plans are built around data driven solutions using an equity lens to inform policies that address health, environmental, and economic justice challenges facing Black Americans in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The coronavirus is also hitting Black Americans and other people of color workers harder than white workers.  The U.S. unemployment rate fell to 13.3 percent in May from 14.7 percent as businesses began to reopen after the shutdown put into effect to slow the spread of the coronavirus.  However, black unemployment increased to 16.8 percent in May from 16.7 percent in April while the unemployment rate for white workers fell to 12.4 percent in May from 14.2 percent in April.  In addition to bearing the brunt of the coronavirus, Black workers face two lethal preexisting conditions of racism and economic inequality. The coronavirus recession slammed black workers with devastating job loss and the recovery is leaving them behind, again.  Currently, less than half of black adults have jobs.  Young black Americans age 16-19 have a 34.9 percent unemployment rate compared to a rate of 28.3 percent for their white counterparts.  The novel coronavirus will have long-lasting negative effects on black workers who are often the last hired, first fired during economic contraction and economic recovery business cycles.         

According to a report from McKinsey and Company, “African Americans are almost twice as likely to live in places where, if contagion hits, the pandemic will likely cause outsize disruption.” African Americans also have higher risk for contracting COVID-19 but have lower access to testing; they are “overrepresented in nine of the ten lowest-paid, high-contact essential services, which elevates their risk of contracting the virus.” 

A recent Pew survey found 61 percent of Hispanics and 44 percent of Black-Americans households were laid off or had their wages cut last month, compared to 38 percent of whites.  Black American workers are often disproportionately found in industries and occupations that face the greatest risks of known occupational hazards. The same seems to be the case with Covid-19. They are also less likely to be in jobs where they can work telework from home.  The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that 37 percent of Asian workers, 29.9 percent of white workers, 19.7 percent of black workers, and 16.2 percent of Latinx workers are able to work from home.  

Disaster recovery dollars generally follow a pattern of “money following money, money following power, and money following whites.”  A racial equity lens calls for “money following need.”  A Rice University and University of Pittsburgh study found counties that experienced $10 billion disasters, white communities gained an average of $126,000 in wealth following recovery efforts—while Black and other communities of color lost between $10,000 and $29,000.

COVID-19 relief fund have followed the historical pattern.  Small businesses of color were excluded from the Small Business Administration (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Early reports found 90 percent of minority and women-owned businesses were frozen out of the COVID-19 relief loans  passed by Congress—with SBA and big banks passing over the most vulnerable minority businesses in favor of bigger “small” businesses. Specifically, over 95 percent of Black-owned businesses, 91 percent of Latino-owned businesses, 91 percent of Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander-owned businesses, and 75 percent of Asian-owned businesses have little chance of receiving a PPP loan through a mainstream bank or credit union. This is especially problematic since many small black-owned businesses depend on black customers—individuals whose limited savings and investments make them less resilient in hard times and times of crisis. 

The NBEJN, as a diverse black organization has come together to tackle the coronavirus pandemic and the myriad of underlying structural conditions that make our communities vulnerable. We will take this opportunity to take bold steps together toward a more inclusive, open and just society that uplifts and fulfils the Principles of Environmental Justice for all. 

DEMANDS FOR JUST RECOVERY AND EQUITABLE STIMULUS FUNDING 

Most middle class wealth is embedded in homeownership. Racism places a “hidden tax” on being black in America. Black college graduates home ownership rate is lower than white high school dropouts homeownership rate of 60.5 percent. Black wealth is roughly one tenth of white wealth.  In 2016, the median wealth for Black and Hispanic families was $17,600 and $20,700, respectively, compared with white families’ median wealth of $171,000. 

Disasters widen income, wealth and health disparities.  Disaster recovery and stimulus dollars generally follow a pattern of “money following money, money following power, and money following whites.” A Rice University and University of Pittsburgh study found counties that experienced $10 billion disasters, in which white communities gained an average of $126,000 in wealth following recovery efforts—while black and other communities of color lost between $10,000 and $29,000.

Preliminary findings show COVID-19 relief funds have followed this historical pattern.  Small businesses of color were excluded from the Small Business Administration (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). 

Early reports found 90 percent of minority and women-owned businesses were frozen out of the COVID-19 relief loans passed by Congress—with SBA and big banks passing over the most vulnerable minority businesses in favor of bigger “small” businesses. Specifically, over 95 percent of Black-owned businesses, 91 percent of Latino-owned businesses, 91 percent of Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander-owned businesses, and 75 percent of Asian-owned businesses have little chance of receiving a PPP loan through a mainstream bank or credit union.

Black American and other workers of color face serious complications and have been disproportionately harmed by the coronavirus pandemic. These workers” form the backbone of essential workers in the nation.  

Black Americans are vulnerable to COVID-19 are paying a higher price with their health.  It is imperative that meaningful protection is provided for all members of the community and a COVID-19 response that addresses pervasive racial injustices at the federal, state, and local levels.

We believe we are stronger together when people and communities who are most impacted lead and are part of the decision-making on how we move forward to heal our communities, our states, our nation and our planet, everyone does better.