|
A History of
Systematic Disparities
In 1900, W.E.B. Du Bois, a
sociologist and black rights activist,
geographically rendered a visual map the scope of the
African diaspora in the wake of the four-centuries-long
transatlantic slave trade
which transported an estimated 12 to 17 million Africans to
Europe’s colonial holdings in the Americas.
While visiting Paris’s Exposition Universelle that same
year, Du Bois gave this visual history lesson on the
Atlantic slave trade to a mostly white European and American
audience, imploring,
"The problem of the twentieth century is the problem of the
color line.”
Through charts and photographs, Du Bois’s work provided an
empirical study of the various conditions of black life. He
covered topics such as employment, marriage, mortality,
property ownership, miscegenation, education, and various
other categories of social progress - much of which
unfortunately hasn’t changed
Thanks to the social media age, you can follow data-driven
professionals like Mona Chalabi, a visual illustrator
sharing the national data and racial disparities of Covid-19
for all of black and brown communities of the world as
information is released to the public.
When Du Bois spoke on the concept of the color-line he was
referring to the role of race and racism in history and
society.
The color line is established when a dominant group
problematizes the existence, color, meaning, worth, and
status of peoples of color.
To spread light on this further, as it pertains to the
construction of the concept of race, having ‘color’ became
synonymous with inferiority. Many argue that this
unfortunate thought process is still perpetuated today.
Doni Miller, CEO of
Toledo’s Neighborhood Health Association and the fan
favorite host of abc13 news’ show Bridges, was one of
the first to send out a PSA on her Facebook page, warning:
“If you’re black
chances are good that you have one of the underlying
conditions that you've heard so much about lately. Please,
call your doctor if you feel ill. Evidence is mounting that
CORONA-19 is infecting Black folks far more often than
others. In Michigan and Illinois for example, where 15
percent of the population is African American, 40 percent of
those infected with CORONA are Black.”
Many Ohioans and Michiganders are doing everything they can
to protect themselves, now that they realize the severity of
the situation.
Ronda Coger, a Michigan-based fashion and beauty consultant, spoke with
The Truth sharing her experience with the deadly virus.
“The large magnitude of the losses from this is taking a huge toll on
me,” shares Coger. “I was diagnosed with COVID-19, then my
brother and then my father. I’m also part of a large social
scene and I regret to say my Facebook page looks like an
obituary.”
Coger’s social group is between the age of 45 to 85. “I went to the
doctor when I felt a tickle in my throat,” states Coger.
“Many of the medical providers brushed it under the rug
stating I most likely had the flu, for which they tested me
twice.” Her results were negative.
Coger expressed sentiments of guilt throughout our chat. Although
unaware of her positive diagnosis at the time, due to
asymptotic symptoms, she did not qualify to be
tested in the state of Michigan and may have likely spread
the virus anyway.
“I have a survivor's guilt because my friends around me are dying in or
in the hospital on ventilators waiting to die and I'm not,
shared Coger. “I hope we can figure out our health care
deficiencies and streamline the processes in our hospitals.”
Others on social media feel like black Americans already encompass a
majority of “essential service” jobs so why risk it?
Preaching, “StayHomeSavesLives” and #AloneTogether as a
better alternative in online comments.
Still many who carry survivors guilt like Coger still want to do more,
while continuing to protect themselves and others.
“I felt symptomatic on Mar 9, and they refused to test me for Covid, as
my temperature was not over the threshold. I had full-blown
first stage symptoms approximately seven full days and
recovered by March 22. I received my positive diagnosis test
results on March 24,” recalls Coger.
Ronda followed CDC recommendations, but due to the peak of the contagion
she was triaged in her car, as the hospital had reached
capacity.
“Just think of how many people myself and others unknowingly came in
contact with between the time we contracted the virus until
we were actually tested for it,” says Coger with a sad sigh.
“I know the medical professionals are doing the best they can,” Coger
shared, attributing her past 20 years as a medical assistant
as the reason for her patience and empathy with overrun
medical professionals.
With a disproportionate number of black people dying from the
coronavirus in Michigan, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced
Tuesday the creation of a task force to tackle racial
inequalities.
Black people make up 13.6 percent of the state’s population, but
represent one third of the infections and 40 percent of the
deaths. But the numbers may be a lot higher because there’s
no data on 35 percent of those infected and 24 percent of
those who have died.
Health officials also say the infection rates are higher because
contagious diseases often spread faster in lower-income
areas. This makes sense when considering the higher numbers
of people relying on public transit, who live in close
quarters, many who have “essential service jobs.” There’s a
history of lower-income Americans working in the service
industry, where employees are in close contact with the
public.
The governor of Michigan is not waiting around for inflated numbers
before acting on her community’s behalf. She’s created a
Covid-19 task force which is responsible for gathering
feedback from the most impacted communities and recommending
ways to combat health care and economic disparities.
Most states have not released data by race. For those that have —
Illinois, Louisiana, North Carolina, and South Carolina —
there’s been a disproportionately high ratio of black
residents to white residents who have tested positive for
the virus and died.
Detroit, where the population is 83 percent black, has a higher death
rate from the coronavirus than New York City, the epicenter
of the outbreak in the U.S. Thus far, 272 Detroiters have
died from Covid-19 and more than 6,000 have tested positive.
Many debate that it’s not about black vs white, rather, it’s about rich
versus poor.
Those commenting via social media observe that race and poverty are
inseparable in the U.S. therefore, it’s only natural that
the impacts of a health crisis of coronavirus’s magnitude
mirror its system’s design.
However, other commenters propose framing this as a racial problem, as
opposed to an institutional problem, which perpetuates the
war of race which seems like the root of the problem.
If what DuBois believed is true, ‘the line’ is inherently
hierarchical and black America is ready to step over it.
Ensuring that white people receive better treatment,
services, and opportunities, while black people receive the
inferior version—or nothing at all will no longer suffice -
not even in a Pandemic.
In a letter sent by the Congressional Black Caucus on April
7 to Robert Redfield, M.D., director for the Centers for
Disease Control (CDC), the Congressional Black Caucus states
they are “Calling for immediate racial data reporting for
COVID-19 in every state, amidst rising trends in infections
and mortality of Black people with coronavirus.
To date, only nine states and the District of Columbia have
released data based on race, which represents less than 20
percent of the country. With the limited data of black
coronavirus death rates out of cities and states across the
nation such as Milwaukee (73 percent of the deaths are in
the African-American communities), Chicago (67 percent),
Louisiana (70 percent), D.C. (58 percent) it is already
evident that the death rates are disproportionate to the
black population in these areas hardest hit. We need full
disclosure of racial data to identify and prioritize the
areas of greatest impact.
The color line was instituted and solidified by slavery, yet
has survived Emancipation and takes many forms. Although the
color line may seem overwhelmingly powerful and unbreakable,
Du Bois suggested that it might be unstable saying, “There
is only so long that two races can live alongside one
another in close but highly unequal proximity before the
line between them is broken.’’
It’s safe to say, this is a ‘break’ black America is ready
for.
|
