While the global pandemic has ravaged the economy as a whole, the Washington Post reports that it has hit black business owners especially hard, with 40 percent no longer working, far more than other groups. The figure is well in excess of the overall proportion of active business owners who are no longer working, 22 percent nationwide. What's more, while black business owners suffered the most loss, other groups have also been disproportionately affected: The number of Latino business owners working has fallen by 32 percent, while the number of Asian business owners has fallen by about 25 percent. The number of immigrant business owners, overall, has fallen by 36 percent since the crisis began.

The Post noted that these types of businesses tend to be the ones that are most affected by the pandemic, such as hair salons, restaurants, and taxi services. Adding on to these challenges, thowever, is a thinner cushion of reserve cash, lack of banking and financial relationships, as well as the fact that many operate in areas that have been harder hit by the virus.