Who Does the Pandemic Affect the Most?
- fionacsweet
- May 8, 2020
- 2 min read
Researchers have noticed the high rates of infection and deaths from COVID-19 prevalent in the African American community. Often they credit it to the higher rates of diabetes, heart and lung disease that are documented in African Americans. These diseases put people at higher risk for COVID-19. This was already well known, but never before had the American people so easily seen the large disparity that has been created by discriminatory policies.
The redlining by the Federal Housing Administration that came out of the New Deal in the 1930's ensured that it was extremely difficult, if not impossible, for African Americans to get loans on housing. Discrimination in the housing market also made way for realtors to charge much higher prices for much less quality to African Americans.
Unfortunately, this led to black Americans ultimately living in poverty. Nowadays, impoverished conditions also lead to increasing chances of catching disease. In Detroit, the water has been shut off in many African American neighborhoods. Not being able to get enough clean water makes it difficult to follow safety precautions (such as washing hands frequently). All of these conditions result in black Americans being at higher risk for the virus.
The CDC has said that it will soon begin releasing information about COVID-19 cases and deaths with race and ethnicity data present, as it had not before. This information can be found in their next Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
I think that it is extremely interesting that it took a pandemic to open our eyes to this very obvious disparity. I am saddened by this, but also excited that now we have our eyes wider open to this problem, so we can begin to fix it.
By: Fiona Sweet
Sources: https://www.vox.com/identities/2020/4/10/21211920/detroit-coronavirus-racism-poverty-hot-spot
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