Final Paper Proposal: COVID-19; The Great Equalizer or The Great Divider?
History repeats itself and this is blatantly obvious when examining COVID-19 and its impact on BIPOC. For generations, Blacks have been at a disadvantage, and not just from a socio-economic perspective. Regardless of financial status, BIPOC are still suffering and dying at a much higher rate than Whites. Research indicates that the trauma and stress resulting from decades of structural legacies of racism is a key factor that must be addressed when considering why BIPOC are hardest hit by the pandemic. Living conditions, low-wage jobs, and lack of quality of healthcare all play a role in the transmission of the virus. However, it goes much deeper than these factors. The structural and systemic generations of racism have inflicted unimaginable trauma and stress upon certain groups of people, ultimately impacting their physical health.
How do we use this virus to create systemic change for BIPOC? What can we learn from the virus as certain communities were hardest hit by the pandemic? How do we encourage people to remove their rose-colored eyeglasses and see this virus for what it really is, as it is clearly NOT the "great equalizer"; but, can we use this opportunity to create equity?
To further investigate this topic I will use the readings we were provided with: "In Sickness and in Wealth"; "When Blackness is a Pre-Existing Condition"; "Why COVID-19 is hitting Black women so hard"; - and, I am trying to find another article that focuses on Latinx and Covid- any suggestions are greatly appreciated!
Hi Marissa,
ReplyDeleteI also decided to focus on COVID for the Final Project. While teaching in Providence and connecting with students' families, I witnessed the struggles and burden that COVID has negatively impacted Black and Latinx. Working in Special Education for the 2019-20 school year, I connected with my families during distance learning. Each family shared their unique situation how this horrible pandemic impacted them. From challenges finding adequate child care for a student with special needs, to parents losing their job, unable to buy food, and families facing eviction from their landlord because they were denied unemployment benefits. One of my former student's mom was denied unemployment benefits as she worked two jobs: one at Dave & Buster's (which closed in the spring), and a part=time job at Dunkin Donuts. This is a single-parent with five children. Her son, my student, diagnosed with traumatic brain injury, was also directly affected as the family was denied WIFI service from COX after owing too much money. None of her children could participate in distance learning. Overall, this has been one big MESS for our students and families in Providence! I look forward to explaining more in my paper. Good luck with your writing!
Hi Tim,
DeleteThe stories are absolutely heartbreaking. I know that as educators, we are incredibly stressed and burnt out right now...but, when you read stories like this, it makes you realize you lucky you are to still have a job. Our students are facing so many challenges right now and Covid has truly magnified those challenges. Your story is a prime example of the challenging decision parents are faced with when deciding to send their children to school, or to keep them home during the pandemic. I have noticed that my BIPOC students are not coming to school. They are incredibly scared of the virus and many of them had to get a job to support their family. Some of my students have to stay home to watch younger siblings because their parents had to get a second or third job. This is an absolute mess and I do not see it getting better soon. As I have said before, if anything good is to come out of this rotten experience, I hope that we finally acknowledge healthcare, minimum wage, living conditions, and so many of the factors that would have made this easier on everyone if they had not been an issue to begin with.
Good luck and stay safe!
Marissa-
ReplyDeleteAs we have learned throughout the semester, systemic racism is a major component for the unwavering number of African Americans and Latinos affected by COVID-19. I came across this podcast that discusses other possible causes for the higher rate in marginalized populations. Some of the possible causes they discuss are: living conditions that do not allow physical distancing, immigration status, environmental conditions, etc. I hope that you find this podcast helpful and useful for your paper. :)
Hi Shannon,
DeleteI was reading an article on Twitter and all of those reasons were mentioned in the article. I was reading an article with my ONE student who showed up last week. The student is an African American and as were reading the article, he was incredibly engaged because he didn't know that Covid is affecting certain communities at much higher rates. When we finished reading the article, he had so many questions for me and it was heartbreaking to listen to the innocence in his voice. I was obviously honest with him, but it was a difficult conversation to have. Do you possibly have a link to the podcast- or even the name of it?
Thank you so much for your help, Shannon!