FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 28, 2020

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING:
North Carolina Leaders Praise Joe Biden’s Plan for Racial Equity

Today, Joe Biden released the Biden Plan to Build Back Better by Advancing Racial Equity Across the American Economy. COVID-19 has shed light on the racial disparities that are deeply rooted in the United States, and Joe Biden’s plan outlines key steps for addressing the lack of equal opportunity for Black and brown Americans.

Here’s what Biden’s plan would do for North Carolinians:

• Joe Biden will reform opportunity zones to ensure they serve black and brown communities, small businesses and homeowners. In North Carolina, twice as many Black and Hispanic residents live below the poverty line as white residents.
• Joe Biden will strengthen the federal reserve’s focus on racial economic gaps and empower the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to fulfill its mission and address workplace discrimination. Since the beginning of the pandemic, more Black and Hispanic North Carolinians have lost their jobs than white North Carolinians.
• Joe Biden will expand access to $100 billion in low-interest business loans by funding state, local, tribal and non-profit lending programs in Black and Brown communities. As a result of COVID-19, 41% of Black-owned businesses nationwide have been forced to shut down. In North Carolina, many minority owned businesses did not receive funding to keep their doors open.
• Joe Biden will make significant investments in educational institutions and programs that are designed to elevate Black and Brown students. For the 2018-2019 school year, white students were twice as likely to score “career and college ready” on exams than their Black peers.

“Today, Joe Biden released a bold plan for achieving racial equity in the United States,” said State Senator Natalie Murdock. “As a small business owner myself, I know that COVID-19 has impacted Black and brown owned businesses disproportionately, which is why I’m proud that Joe Biden plans to invest $150 billion through a Biden Small Business Opportunity Plan. COVID-19 shed light on the racial disparities that communities of color have fought for years. Biden recognizes the need for a long-term plan for communities of color that will not only support our most vulnerable during COVID-19, but for years to come.”

“Joe Biden’s plan for racial equity strives to give every American a fair shot, no matter their race,” said Wake County Soil and Water District Supervisor Nervahna Crew. “Biden’s focus on racial equity in the fourth plank of his Build Back Better Plan is a welcome commitment after four years of Donald Trump — who has spewed hatred from the Oval Office and turned his back on communities of color. Joe Biden is dedicated to removing barriers to participation in our economy by making bold investments in home ownership for families of color and supporting second chances.”

“Our country is facing two crises right now — COVID-19 and systemic racism,” said State Representative Zack Hawkins. “Joe Biden knows that we are at a critical juncture in history, and we have a responsibility to combat the pervasive and dangerous biases that are killing Black Americans at every turn. We are far beyond the point when bold, sweeping action is vital. Biden’s plan does not shy away from the harsh realities of racial disparities; he tackles them head on by addressing racial inequity with concrete steps and a commitment to deliver long overdue reforms.”

“Our nation was founded on the principle of ‘all men are created equal.’ But for too long, ‘all men’ left far too many people behind,” said Pat Timmons Goodson, Congressional Candidate NC-08. “Joe Biden knows this, and his plan today focuses on leveling the playing field for Black and brown people across the country. His plan directs investment in those who have been denied resources and racial equity in the American economy. With Joe Biden’s plan, all people will have equal access to opportunities, no matter their race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability, or zip code.”

Read the full plan here.