The NAACP, in partnership with the African American Research Collaborative and the Equity Research and Innovation Center at the Yale School of Medicine, conducted a survey on how African Americans are responding to the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Some of the important findings of the survey are:
* 23 percent of all African Americans have had a friend or family member who has been infected with the virus and 15 percent have had a friend or family member who has died.
* 80 percent of those polled preferred to hold off on ending the shutdown to assure their safety ahead of boosting the economy.
* 36 percent said they had lost their jobs or had their wages reduced.
* 64 percent of African Americans agree they are less likely than Whites to be offered COVID-19 testing.
* 60 percent agree they are less likely than Whites to have everything done to save their lives in the hospital.
* 80 percent of African Americans think that President Trump has done a poor job of responding to the pandemic.
* 66 percent believe that race is a factor in police treatment in regards to re-open protestors.
* 58 percent do not trust the police to fairly and equally enforce rules about social distancing.
Derrick Johnson, president and CEO of the NAACP, said, “This poll brings attention to the true sentiment of Black communities within this pandemic and beyond. The impact of this virus will only further harm our community while increasing racial disparities and structural bias across the board. This moment calls for us to trust and listen to the community most impacted by COVID-19.”
