AphroChic Magazine: Issue No. 4

HOT TOPIC
We Are The Economy: Building from the Ashes of COVID-19
There is an old saying that goes: when white people get a cold, Black people get the flu.
And unfortunately, the coronavirus outbreak has proved this to be true. More than
100,000 Americans have lost their lives due to COVID-19. And 40 million workers have
filed for unemployment benefits in the last 10 weeks as they continue to lose work hours
or lose their jobs altogether, affecting their wages and access to health care.
It’s no secret that Black people have
without centering the needs of Black and
when they are empowered, when workers are
been disproportionately affected by this
brown workers. Because we are the economy.
supported, and when marginalized commu-
pandemic. Historically, Black workers tend
The virus shows no signs of stopping.
nities are not excluded or exploited.
to be the first laid off and the last re-hired
The number of cases and deaths across the
Our current economy is broken. Only
following an economic recession. Early data
nation continue to rise. Governors, legis-
a handful of wealthy individuals reap the
shows that once again Black workers have
lators, and the president have touted the
majority of benefits from work that everyone
been disproportionately laid off. This is not
narrative that we must reopen in order to
else does. Inequality is a major cause, and
surprising, given that our economy typically
“save” the economy. That's in direct opposi-
it has grown dramatically over the past 40
resorts Black workers to hold low-wage jobs
tion to public health officials and economists
years, creating a precarious and fragile
in industries heavily affected by stay-at-
who widely agree that it is premature and
economy prone to shocks and collapses.
to secure the common economic good for the
their benefit.
ly for marginalized and under-resourced
home orders. And we have already seen Black
dangerous to reopen.
What does a strong economy look like?
majority of Americans. Workers are central.
To counter the harmful narrative of
communities, and businesses compete
businesses disproportionately shut down
Do we really have to choose between
In a strong economy, everyone has security
Investing in workers, providing protections
trickle-down economics, we must instead
healthily without the presence of large mo-
as investors cut costs and investments into
saving the economy and protecting people’s
and peace of mind in knowing that their basic
from exploitation and harm, preventing the
center the needs of everyday people to
nopolies. With all of these systems in place,
Black-owned brands.
health and lives? The short answer is no.
needs are met. They are able to afford the
exclusion of marginalized workers — elimi-
ensure a stronger and more resilient
living standards will rise and provide more
Black workers also disproportionate-
There is, in fact, no economy without workers,
things they need, from groceries and medical
nating margins altogether — and empower-
economy that works for everyone. To
economic security, dignity, and freedom
ly comprise the ranks of frontline essential
so from an economic as well as a moral per-
expenses to housing, utility bills, and other
ing workers to demand more rights through
begin raising living standards and increas-
for people to live happy, healthy, and secure
workers, many of which are low wage, blue
spective, our health and lives are paramount.
expenses. This means living standards rise
collective bargaining are some of the ways
ing well-being for everyday people, we can
lives.
collar jobs with no option to work remotely.
Here’s the longer answer: Contrary
for everyone, especially those in the bottom
we can advocate for workers and worker
provide public investments in workers,
So what does this worldview mean in
As many of these workers are living paycheck
to popular belief, the stock market and the
and middle-income classes. It means racial
productivity. When entire communities are
families, and communities, such as public
our current moment, especially for Black
to paycheck, they face the difficult choice
economy are not the same thing. If the stock
and gender disparities decline in the short
exploited, disempowered, and underval-
schools, public health, and public housing. A
folks? Well, we have to remember that the
between going to work and risking exposure
market is performing well, it does not mean
run and are eliminated in the long run.
ued, it creates a fragile economy composed of
prosperous society invests in everyone, re-
coronavirus outbreak was the straw that
to COVID-19 or bringing home a paycheck.
that the economy is strong. Same goes for the
It means, above all, that the most mar-
exhausted workers.
gardless of race, gender, class, geography, or
broke the camel’s back. Our economy was
And in many cases, if a worker decides not
number of wealthy individuals, the perfor-
ginalized communities, Black people and
Currently, our economy is producing
any other identity. Broadly shared prosperity
not prepared for an economic depression
to go to work for fear of infection, they will
mance of American corporations, the gross
Black women in particular, have fair wages,
more, but fewer people are benefiting. The
creates widespread stability so that everyone
and global pandemic. Our social safety net
be deemed ineligible for unemployment
domestic product (GDP), etc. None of these
can choose employment that fits their goals
key to ensuring economic benefits don’t all
can actively participate in buying and selling
has been decimated and public infrastruc-
insurance benefits, since they technically have
are the best indicators of how the economy
and aspirations, can build wealth, and can
trickle up to the top 1% is an equitable dis-
goods, which will prompt the private sector
ture remains underfunded. Black people
the option to work. They may also get laid off
is doing because they gloss over widening in-
live longer and healthier lives. Because if
tribution of power. When power becomes
to invest in people and physical capital to
were struggling before this crisis, but we
as a result. This, in part, explains why and how
equality in this country.
Black women are living and thriving rather
concentrated in the hands of the few, they
meet the rising demand.
don’t have to struggle in our recovery. We
COVID-19 has had disproportionate effects
The best economic indicator is us — your
than merely surviving, then it increases the
will use that power to hoard their economic
If anti-racist, power re-distribut-
must push for immediate relief now that
on the personal economics of Black people.
family, your neighbor, your colleague, you. We
likelihood that all Americans are thriving.
riches. This is exactly why “trickle down”
ing structures are set in place, then we can
also reorients our economic system to be
But we cannot ignore the structural racial in-
are the economy. The economy is composed of
When we center the most marginalized,
economics fail to deliver economic prosper-
ensure the economic gains are broadly
stronger and allows Black people to have the
equalities that have set the stage for increased
all the interactions and transactions between
everyone else also reaps the benefits.
ity: it ignores the role of power. And without
and equitably shared. This means workers
full, secure and prosperous economic lives
economic and medical vulnerabilities among
regular, everyday people. The economy can
How can we ensure rising and broadly
rules and regulations, the rich will shape
are able to bargain collectively with their
that we deserve.
Black communities. It’s clear that we cannot
only thrive if everyone is able to participate,
shared living standards? Experience will tell
markets, bend rules, and implement systems
employers, public services and invest-
Janelle Jones is the Managing Director for Policy and Research
build a stronger and more resilient economy
and people can only meaningfully participate
us that we cannot count on the private sector
of exploitation — like structural racism — to
ments are widely available but especial-
at Groundwork Collaborative (groundworkcollaborative.org).
Words by Janelle Jones
120 Photos by Nappy
aphrochic issue four 121