In a podcast published by The New Yorker: Politics and More, the host, David Remnick, discusses the injustices of COVID-19. Ranging from health care systems to one’s employment status, the coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated the severe racial inequalities in society. Looking closely at the number of illnesses and fatalities, minorities, particularly African-Americans, account for a greater proportion of the number of deaths. Professor and contributor to The New Yorker, Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor, described to Remnick the reasons why minorities are succumbing to COVID-19 at a staggering rate. While pre-existing health conditions increase the risk of contracting the virus, underlying conditions including poverty, housing, and unemployment all factor into the higher risk category for minoritized communities. Due to residential segregation, even the basic preventative measures urged by the CDC are less accessible in black communities. Aside from having a safe, comfortable home, access to the internet, and computers, many of these communities lack access to clean water, which is crucial during a time of maintaining basic hygiene. While sheltering in place is critical, you must have a certain amount of income and class position to fully engage in this practice. Taylor states that only 19 percent of black people have the ability to work at home because of the types of jobs they are employed in. Many are employed in lower-wage jobs which are essential during the pandemic, resulting in being unable to observe social distancing and stay-at-home orders. Lastly, Taylor mentions the accessibility to COVID-19 testing in poor and minority neighborhoods. Here, she underscores that testing was six times higher in high-income areas than in neighborhoods with lower incomes and rates of insurance. All of these issues are intersecting and ultimately, the COVID-19 pandemic has shined a light on the many inequalities within our society.
