Belinda Archibong | Source | Assistant Professor of Economics at Barnard College

Small storefronts sit empty along a block of one of Washington's historic African American neighborhoods. For decades, Black businesses thrived here, catering to loyal customers. Today, during the coronavirus pandemic, those who once patronized the establishments doubt they'll ever reopen. "I can't count the number that closed and were never replaced," Sam Higgins, an African American resident of the capital city's Park View neighborhood, told VOA. "We used to patronize these places. I've seen Black-owned barber shops, convenience stores and restaurants close.

A remote hearing before the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee will be held on Wednesday, April 14, 2021, at 2:30 p.m. ET.