MCC Daily Tribune

The Coronavirus and Communities of Color

The Corona Virus and Communities of Color

"When America catches a cold, black people get pneumonia". This is an old saying in the black community. Georges Benjamin-Executive Director of the Public Health Association has said "African Americans are at greater risk of death from the Corona Virus. Take this COVID-19 as serious as a heart attack".

New York City has become the epicenter for COVID-19. City officials have said black and Latino residents are contracting COVID-19 and dying at much higher rates than white residents. In Chicago, more than 70% of virus-related fatalities were among African Americans. This is a percentage more than double their share of the population. Black residents in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin., have seen similarly disproportionate rates of exposure and deaths.

Data shows about 18% of the COVID-19 virus in New York, not including New York City are black people and 14% Hispanic. This data illustrates that the virus is killing a higher percentage of people of color. New York data mirrors data gathered by many other states. In Chicago, more than 70% of virus-related fatalities were among African Americans. This is a percentage more than double their share of the population. Black residents in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin., have seen similarly disproportionate rates of exposure and deaths.

According to New York State Senators Zellnor Myrie and Jamaal Bailey, "While it is true that anyone can contract the virus and this crisis reaches all of us in some way, it is absolutely not true that the harm it causes is distributed equally."

Jerome Adams the United States Surgeon General has noted, minorities are not more predisposed to infection "biologically or genetically," but rather they are "socially predisposed" to it via occupations, geographies, etc.

Public health experts such as Dr. Benjamin have expanded on the heighten threats many diseases like COVID -19 pose to marginalized populations. Dr. Ashwin Vasan who is a public health expert and assistant professor at Columbia University said "Like most things in society, it's going to be regressive. It's going to be felt disproportionately by the poor, the vulnerable, the marginalized communities, obviously that falls down in our country on communities of color".

Due to the marginalization around items such as food, clothing, shelter, etc., and because people of color work predominately in the service industries e.g. food service, hospitality, transportation, etc. communities of color are more likely to be exposed to COVID-19 , have more lethal outcomes upon exposure and not have access to the needed quality healthcare(including mental health).

We in the Counseling Center believe that we will all as a unique multi-racial, multi- ethnic, multicultural nation get through this pandemic together. We encourage you to "stay woke", stay vigilance and "knuckled up" to fight this virus together. We are here at 292-2140

Please view the list of resources that can help you/we/us get through this crisis

National Text Crisis 212-254-2390(specifically for students of color)
The Black Mental Health Alliance https://blackmentalhealth.com
Monroe County .gov "How to protect yourself from COVID-19". https://www2.monroecounty.gov/health-COVID-19
The Center for Disease Control NY-800-232-4636
You can Google the Psychology Today website to find an individual therapist
: https://www.lohud.com/story/news/coronavirus/2020/04/08/ny-plans-release-covid-19-racial-demographic-data-amid-concerns/2963727001/
*Attorney General James Urges Action to Protect Communities of Color from COVID-19: https://ag.ny.gov/press-release/2020/attorney-general-james-urges-action-protect-communities-color-covid-19
* AG's Office Expands Efforts to Support Immigrants and Communities of Color During COVID-19 Pandemic: https://www.mass.gov/news/ags-office-expands-efforts-to-support-immigrants-and-communities-of-color-during-covid-19

Coronavirus: Why some racial groups are more vulnerable: https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200420-coronavirus-why-some-racial-groups-are-more-vulnerable and The Hardest Hit: Who is Supporting Communities of Color During COVID-19?: https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/2020/4/2/the-hardest-hit-who-is-supporting-communities-of-color-during-covid-19

E. Watkins
Counseling Center & Disability Services
05/12/2020