Local NAACP, Urban League Speak Out About Georgia Reopening, African Americans Being Affected

Currently, the GDPH’s data is not comprehensive, with about 41% cases being an “unknown” or “other” race. But among the cases with racial identifiers, around 55% are African American. Black people make up approximately 32% of the residents in Georgia, according to Census estimates.

This disparity could be caused in part by the fact that the coronavirus preys on those who have underlying conditions.

African Americans face a higher rate of obesity or being overweight, which can make them “more likely to suffer from high blood pressure, high levels of blood fats, diabetes and LDL cholesterol,” as written on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ website.

Following Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp’s announcement to reopen some businesses starting Friday, the Georgia NAACP is planning to protest his decision. 

The civil rights organization is calling for Georgians to continue to stay at home and to practice social distancing, according to Rev. James Woodall, Georgia NAACP state president.

‘A Civil Rights Issue’

Nancy Flake Johnson, president and CEO of the Urban League of Greater Atlanta, also said she is “still very concerned about the spread of the virus.” 

Johnson, who is a member of the governor’s Coronavirus Task Force Community Outreach Committee, said she didn’t know about Kemp’s decision before his announcement.

“Our stance is that we are clear that it is affecting African Americans and the Latino population at higher rates, and we want additional focus to be placed on those communities that need the attention most,” she said.

The coronavirus crisis has become “a civil rights issue,” Woodall said. 

“We have to do more as a state before we have preliminary conversations about opening up the economy so that we protect the most vulnerable, which are our African Americans, which are seniors, which are those who are medically fragile, which are those who are incarcerated, and especially those who are homeless,” he said.

Woodall said he doesn’t believe Kemp’s intention is to put African Americans in danger of contracting the virus. But based on the GDPH’s data, he said it is clear that African Americans “will be disproportionately impacted nonetheless.”

Woodall said local leaders should get the chance to decide what is best for residents in their area.

“What we want is for local businesses, local governments, local residents and local families to be able to decide what happens for the best interest of their community, not happening from the governor’s mansion nor the state Capitol.”

He also said Georgia needs to do more — increase testing, expand access to treatment and provide unemployment benefits to those who have to stay home. 

To Woodall, those benefits, along with relief packages for smaller businesses, is important to help sustain communities during the pandemic. 

Resources Available

Johnson said the civil rights organization understands the economic impacts of coronavirus closures and has been offering ongoing community and small business resources content on the Urban League in Atlanta‘s website.

On the website, users can find information about housing support, food, internet access, and how to get emergency financial help.

NAACP Georgia has been working to give communities access to accurate and up-to-date information so that it can open the door to opportunities, such as through grants or food drives, Woodall said.

More information about the NAACP’s response to the coronavirus pandemic can be found online.