It is inevitable that Covid-19, like all economic, biological and natural disasters will have a disproportionate effect on Boston’s Black population. While direct payments from the stimulus bill passed by Congress will begin to help, economically, it will not raise up the Black community nor other communities of color to a level equal to whites. This is because Boston’s Black Community is much poorer than whites, a divide that is documented by the Boston Federal Reserve “The Color of Wealth” that found , Blacks in the Boston MSA have a median net worth (wealth) of $8 compared to whites, with an average net worth of $247,500. We are the ones who can least afford to lose our jobs, we are poorer than whites, we occupy insecure jobs at risk from forced shutdowns, have jobs that cannot be done from home, are on the front lines of home health care all while perpetually facing food insecurity, underemployment and chronic medical conditions.  Health care disparity in the Black Community has been documented over and over, we have less access to health insurance, quality health care and little paid sick leave makes us more vulnerable to the health and economic effects of COVID-19. 

Because we occupy jobs that are considered necessary, like grocery stores, pharmacies, aids and deliveries, we are more apt to work while sick because losing our income puts our families under additional stress and strain, now. Because our jobs are low paying, we cannot stock up on weeks and weeks of food and necessities, now we must venture out more and when we do, we use public transportation. 

Even when times are good our fight is constant, we fight for our share of construction jobs, where data indicate that the City and State fall short in their obligation to hire our people. We fight for City and State contracts, where WGBH’s “ The Color of Public Money” reports less than one percent of municipal contracts are awarded to us and has been declining for years, we are left out, even while committees have been formed, studies have been conducted and Executive Orders have been decreed.

We have a plan to help our community. We are not sitting back, we have our churches, our societies, our connections, our families to mobilize, to help each other, now. We have begun by dedicating our weekly radio show to listening to stories and gathering data on our community needs. (The BEJI Report, on Boston Praise Radio & TV WBPG-LP 102.9 FM and the internet, from 8 to 10). We are in the process of distributing $20,000 worth of grocery and pharmacy gift cards. We have applied for all the grants and funds that have been made available to non-profits to continue this work. We must be included. 

What will happen next when a City, that has a population consisting of 55% people of color, does not proportionality include us in the emergency philanthropic and government funding efforts? How will the City rebound when a majority of its people cannot work, cannot buy things, and cannot participate because we are tired and sick from our continuing fight while recovering from the disproportionate economic and health consequences brought about by COVID-19?

Brother Lo Banks and Priscilla Flint-Banks, Founders Black Economic Justice Institute, Inc. 

BEJI is a (501 (c) 3) nonprofit oragnization

321 Blue Hill Ave.  

Dorchester, MA 02121

908-800-2354

bejii2014@gmail.com www.bejii.org