African Americans views of COVID-19 contact tracing and testing

•African Americans lack knowledge on different components of contact tracing (eg, role in SARS-CoV-2 prevention) and COVID testing (eg, guidelines).•Personal or observed experiences negatively influence engagement in COVID testing and contact tracing.•Contact tracing and COVID-19 were considered beneficial through their ability to identify hotspots and personal COVID statuses.•Major barriers to COVID-19 testing and contact tracing include lack of access, costs, stigma, and mistrust in government, healthcare, and research.•Strategies to increase engagement include development of a multi-level communication plan on these behaviors, increased access, and better testing method(s). Increasing COVID-testing and contact tracing is necessary to control the COVID-19 pandemic considering suboptimal vaccine rates. We conducted semi-structured interviews to explore views towards contact tracing and testing among 62 African Americans. Based on our findings, participants identified COVID-19 testing and contact tracing as beneficial, yet medical and governmental mistrust, stigma associated with SARS-CoV-2, lack of access, poor communication, and costs as major barriers. This study also highlights intervention targets to improve COVID-testing and contact tracing.