NEW: Providence NAACP Raises Concerns Over COVID-19 Effect on Black Community

NEW: Providence NAACP Raises Concerns Over COVID-19 Effect on Black Community

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Providence Branch is urging African-Americans and persons of African descent to advocate for quality health care and treatment during the COVID-19 crisis.

“The recent discovery of unimaginable statistics in Coronavirus deaths amongst African Americans, my heart was troubled, as we know there are significant unaddressed issues that lend to the dismal data. We must remember that when others sneeze, African Americans often catches the flu,” says NAACP Branch President, Jim Vincent. 

"The pandemic crisis is affecting communities of color demonstrated by the disturbing development in the crisis has become more apparent -- and alarming as cities and states begin to release data," said Vincent. "Issues of socio-economic differences, the climate justice disparities and lack of access to affordable healthcare are at the root of the problem. 

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Urging Focus on Employment -- and Health Care

Vincent said the NAACP is "calling on employers to make an effort to hire minorities during the pandemic to help balance the socio-economic disparities.” 

Looking past the pandemic, Vincent said the Providence Branch will likely make health care disparities a priority moving forward.