There have been numerous instances in recent years that were described as watershed moments in our nation. Think back to January 2017 and the post-inauguration Women’s March. Hundreds of thousands of women (and men) came together in cities all across the country, indeed, the world, to march and demand more equitable treatment. Think back to the shootings in February 2018 at Stoneman Douglas High School, in Parkdale, Florida, and the student march on Washington to demand stricter gun control. Think back as recently as November 2019, when the Democratic Party took majority control of the House of Representatives and announced impeachment proceedings of the US President.
Every one of these events (and there were others, to be sure), held the nation’s attention and raised the hopes of young and old alike that change was coming. Our country was built for change, was founded on the very idea of equal rights for all, and the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Then came 2020, an unprecedented and unexpected year for us all. We have all had our unique struggles as we cope with the effects of COVID-19, but recent events are highlighting racial inequalities and injustices in ways we have not seen for many years.
When the world first learned of COVID-19, it was thought of as “the great equalizer”– a virus that would affect all Americans regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status or political affiliation. Since there is no vaccine or herd immunity, that means we are all vulnerable. But as the latest version of the coronavirus leaves normal American life in shreds, it is becoming clearer that the only thing the virus is doing is putting the already present racial inequalities in our country on a highlight reel.
The genetic makeup of America is overwhelmingly Caucasian and the country’s socioeconomic and political worlds are dominated by Caucasians. Black Americans make up approximately 13% of the U.S. population, Hispanic and Latinx people hold 18.3%, and Asian/Pacific Islanders clock in at 5.9%. White Americans hold the whopping majority of 75.5%.
In reality, long before COVID-19 hit the United States, African-Americans have always been underprivileged. African-American children are more likely to attend underfunded and inadequately resourced schools compared to their white peers. They are more likely to be disciplined than white students for the same offense. Black children score an average of 75% below white Americans in standardized testing. They are less likely to live in “privileged” neighborhoods — communities with lower crime rates and less violent crimes, cleaner air and sanitation, and with better access to quality healthcare.
Systemic racism in America, and the fact that black communities were already struggling before the pandemic, places African-Americans at higher risk for many illnesses and COVID-19 is no exception. There are basically two distinct issues — black Americans contract the virus at higher rates than other racial groups, but also suffer a higher mortality rate.
The CDC states that older adults and people of any age with serious health conditions are at higher risk for contracting COVID-19 (and other illnesses). “Current data suggests a disproportionate burden of illness and death falls on racial and ethnic minority groups.” (CDC, “COVID-19 in Racial and Ethnic Minority Groups”) Among COVID-19 deaths for which race and ethnicity data were available, a study in New York City identified death rates among black/African American persons (92.3 deaths per 100,000 population) and Hispanic/Latino persons (74.3) that were substantially higher than that of white (45.2) or Asian (34.5) persons. (CDC, ibid). An example that shows the disproportionate infection rate of COVID-19 in African American persons appeared in a Washington Post article: “…while black people only make up 14% of the Illinois population, they make up 40% of the statewide infections.” (Washington Post, April 2020)
The CDC lists a number of factors that influence the health of racial and ethnic minority groups. Broadly, these are 1) living conditions; 2) work circumstances; and 3) underlying health conditions and lower access to care. A closer look at these factors suggests a roadmap of change for public health policy and broader societal elements.
Living conditions. Racial and ethnic minority groups live in communities with higher population densities, with higher levels of racial segregation, and at greater distance from healthcare and food resources. Racial and minority groups are also over-represented in jails, prisons, and detention centers, each of which adds their own health risk factors.
Work circumstances. Racial and ethnic minority groups hold more jobs in essential and service industry jobs, which face higher risk of exposure to COVID-19, and other illnesses.
Underlying health conditions and lower access to care. Compared to whites, African Americans are twice as likely to be uninsured. (US Bureau of Labor Statistics, January 2019) Additionally, compared to whites, black Americans experience higher death rates and higher prevalence of chronic health conditions.
Societal inequalities and racial discrimination against black Americans means they were already set up to fail, long before COVID-19 became a pandemic. COVID-19 may be a great equalizer in terms of political parties, but it has also proven itself to be a great discriminator. It targets the vulnerable, immuno-compromised, elderly, and the urban poor, and highlights the great racial, economic and class inequities of modern day America.
Despite claims that the US is one of the greatest countries in the world, the failures of current public health policy, gross political incompetence and ignorance, and unchecked corporate profiteering, have all conspired to allow COVID-19 to wreak havoc in the USA. In order for there to be real, lasting change, we must institute widespread reforms, including universal healthcare; stricter environmental regulation in all communities; and allocation of resources to ensure quality education. These reforms may tackle the surface factors that have given rise to racial and economic inequities, but for permanent, lasting change, America must wholly dedicate itself to protecting the “inalienable rights” of every human being, regardless of gender, race, or socioeconomic status, to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Photo by Fred Murphy is licensed under CC BY-ND-NC 1.0.
Hear hear! So many important points. We have a long climb ahead of us before things get better in this country. Well researched and written article, great work.