While the world continues to manage economic shutdown and stay at home orders, and their health, organizations like the Black Economic Alliance (BEA) have chosen to use their platform to connect leaders with the public to keep everyone informed and well.
As part of their COVID-19 Speaker Series, BEA’s executive director David Clunie, co-chairs Tony Coles, and Charles Phillips spoke with Congressman James E. Clyburn Thursday, April 16, 2020, to discuss and answer questions about the federal response to the coronavirus pandemic. Together they sent a message to Black America while uncovering inequalities of the healthcare and financial realm, and detailing the importance of funds going to minority-owned small businesses, HBCUs, and underserved communities.
“This is really impacting all of us in profound ways from a health perspective but also economically,” Clunie opened the conversation. “It’s been interesting in the last few days to see media and government leaders really pivot to talking about the numbers of just how disproportionately severe this impact has been on communities of color, low-income communities, and particularly the Black [community].”
With moderations from Coles, the conversation with Rep. Clyburn began almost immediately reassuring the government is responding well to change and efforts regarding small businesses. However, he still believes they are still missing the target regarding who and what areas need the resources. “I think that if there’s anything that has laid bare for us, it is the inequalities. The inequities that exist in our delivery systems, be it health care need education, and be in economic development,” he stated. “We need to take a hard look at restructuring healthcare, restructuring education, and restructuring our banking systems.”
Focusing on health, “We know all the experts tell us, in order for us to get back to anything that resembles normality we need to test. We need to track and trace the testing. We need to develop treatments. That, to me, is where we ought to be focusing,” Rep. Clyburn emphasized. For phase four of the government coronavirus relief bills, he believes more funds should be allocated to finding a solution, testing in rural areas, and for those considered essential workers. With the next round of government funding, he hopes that rather ignoring the issues in healthcare and aimlessly devote money to its problems, they instead build community health centers within commuting distance of every person in the U.S.
In the next phase, Rep. Clyburn is not only fighting for healthcare but broadband. “That is when wen ought to invest the $65 billion that is required to have healthcare … [and] another $80 billion for broadband deployment,” he stated, adding that it be available for a possible reoccurrence.
“The only way we’re going to get our communities prepared for that is to have 100 percent built out of broadband, so telehealth can take place. Have 100 percent coverage of community health centers, so that people can be within commuting distance of treatment and tracing. That is what is going to be required.”
The conversation moved forward to discuss small business and the financial assistance business owners are receiving as part of the CARES Act. Rep. Clyburn makes it clear he wants the money to go to communities that may not survive an extended economic shutdown. “I’m not going to be satisfied with a program that’s pushing money out the door, and the money is not going into areas where it’s sorely needed. Not only needed but sorely needed,” he emphasized. “That’s what I’m going to be working very hard to do.”
Along with small businesses, historically Black colleges and universities (HBCU) also need funding according to the congressman. Unlike Ivy League and PWI’s, it’s believed many HBCUs lack the infrastructure to maintain if schools remain closed come September. To counter that concern, Rep. Clyburn believes postponing student loans and continuous engagement regarding the importance of HBCUs could help curve the issue.
The conversation comes to a close. Rep. Clyburn shared the most important issue is broadband deployment. “That’s how we take care of these young people,” he stated. “Broadband deployment is number one for education. Broadband deployment is number one for healthcare delivery. That is huge.”
“To me, the two most important things in addressing this today is keeping people healthy and quite frankly, getting people educated.”
