By Salena Pryor, Sacramento Observer
Small businesses in California have taken a major hit over the last few months. Most have been forced to temporarily shut their doors amid mandatory stay-at-home-orders, which has led to sweeping layoffs and uncertainty for the future. The pandemic has impacted the business community so deeply that unemployment and revenue losses are said to be worse than those of the Great Depression.
Economically, Black-owned small businesses and their employees have been some of the most negatively impacted by the pandemic, as the struggles introduced have been compounded with an existing lack of access to affordable resources — most importantly — health care. As we continue to see the negative impacts of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, lawmakers must embrace innovations that expand access to health care, including oral health care, to Black and minority communities.