2020 has not been a great year. NBA great Kobe Bryant died in a horrific helicopter crash, wildfires ravaged through the Australian bush, and now the spread of the coronavirus has halted world economies as people die by the thousands.
In the United States, the virus is notably having a greater effect on the minority community. In the last few weeks, reports in the news have been published almost everywhere, detailing why this disparity may be occurring. In her Washington Post article, Vanessa Williams explores the demand for information pertaining to race and ethnicity data on coronavirus deaths and infections. According to the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, "This information is necessary to better inform a robust public health response in the Black community and ensure COVID-19 tests are not being administered or withheld in a racially discriminatory manner". Williams stresses throughout her article that this demand for this information is very relevant and
Cities throughout the United States are finding the Black community being hit a lot harder by this virus than the White community. Newspapers of all sorts have reported on this issue, bringing the question of if underlying racism is the reason behind this major imbalance. According to an Aljazeera article, more than half of Chicago's 6,100 cases were African American even though they are only responsible for 30 percent of the city's overall population. Other areas where this data is similar can be found in Detroit and Milwaukee. Below, this graph from a Washington Post article, shows the correlation between the population of African Americans in different cities and the percent of deaths from the Covid disease.
Segregation did not end in 1954. Since 1954, segregation has played a major role in the development of the United States, with the effects of it are still felt today. Through redlining of cities and white flight, it is common to see African Americans make up the majority of population in cities. Home to the largest African American population in the country, Detroit finds itself at the epicenter of the coronavirus in Michigan and health officials only fear it will get worse. With dozens of food banks and empty homes, Detroit has an immense number of impoverished people. A recent Vox article explores how this high number of people living in poverty is the reason why Detroit is in such a bad situation.
Another city that is still considered to be segregated to a degree is Milwaukee. Like Detroit, an article from the Guardian written by Teran Powell, explores how the virus is affecting the Black Community harshly.
In the end, this pandemic will hopefully allow for Americans all across the country to notice the fundamental racism that is still present within the United States. Before this virus, not much action was being done to help protect the impoverished or help them get their lives together. Once this virus is under control, it is time for us Americans to truly care about the health of our neighbors and others. If the United States is not careful, we could find ourselves in a similar situation. Besides, the health of your neighbors determines the type of health you are in.
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