How Fort Worth’s black-owned businesses can prosper amid coronavirus changes

Any American crisis usually means doom for the African American community. But there is hope on the horizon because change is in the wind.

COVID-19 has dramatically changed the landscape of African-American owned businesses and our communities in general. Our way of life has been redefined. Despite that, the new reality has presented businesses, churches and communities with challenges that can be overcome by readjusting and reinvesting in areas often overlooked.

For example, online communication has been seen as a way to stay in touch with family and friends. We have discovered now that e-commerce and pivoting to working via videoconference has increasingly become the preferred way to do business in many industries. Face-to-face transactions will decrease.

But the ability to be economically viable is well within reach if we pivot during these times. Now is the time we should welcome the change.

Our education system will look different. Classes are increasingly being offered through online platforms. But closing classroom instruction and moving to an online curriculum may not be entirely beneficial for black students. Our students are already at a disadvantage. Despite efforts to address access to technology, students lack adequate internet connectivity.

In addition to learning, schools provide meals, extracurricular activities, counseling, social outlets and an environment conducive to learning that most students may not receive at home.

The way we experience church is different, too. Small groups are meeting via videoconferencing, and church services are being streamed online. Who could have imagined that just a few months ago life as we know would change in such a dramatic fashion?

We can meet the challenge of change. Times like these require us to band together to keep our businesses alive, but we must also work even harder to help our communities combat COVID-19.

While African Americans are almost 13% of the U.S. population, we account for only 4% of business ownership. “Of the 2.6 million black-owned businesses, 2.5 million have no employees,” says Ron Busby, president of the U.S. Black Chambers, a coalition of black chambers of commerce.

Because most black-owned businesses have no employees, they have trouble taking advantage of the federal Payroll Protection Program, which provides funds for paying employees.

A new poll released by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and MetLife reveals that 25% of small business owners say that they’re two months or less from closing permanently amid the economic downturn caused by the pandemic. The poll also showed that 11% of businesses are less than a month away from permanently going out of business.

The Fort Worth Metropolitan Black Chamber of Commerce is committed to providing resources for our members as they adjust. We conduct a weekly webinar to help small businesses navigate the complicated (and ever-changing) government loan and grant programs; we continue to provide our construction contractors with job opportunities; and along with the Fort Worth and Hispanic chambers, and thanks to a grant from Facebook, we have provided personal protective equipment to businesses with 25 or fewer employees.

I am confident that we will look back on these trying historical times and with thanksgiving be able to declare: We made it. COVID-19 brought about change. What could have been evil was turned to good. Change made us stronger, wiser, and better.

It is important that we continue to work together. This includes our local officials, pastors, businessmen and women, educators, community leaders, and yes, our citizens.

When we embrace change, we don’t have to wait for a better tomorrow. A better tomorrow can begin today.