Anonymous, 18 – Hartford, CT

In the U.S. 33% of those hospitalized by Covid-19 are African Americans while making up only 13% of the population. The coronavirus pandemic has revealed the fact that till this day black people are not treated as equals and it is causing African Americans to be more susceptible to the virus. Covid-19 has shown how there are major racial health disparities that black people have to deal with. 

The main reason that African Americans are dying from corona more than other races is because of the racial health disparities. In America you see that it is common for black people not to trust hospitals and they have every right not to. In an article on Brockings called, “Why are Blacks dying at higher rates from COVID-19”, it states, “ The United States and European nations have a long and torrid colonial legacy of using Black bodies as scientific and medical guinea pigs rather than treating them as human beings.” This shows that black people have a right to be afraid of hospitals since there is history of the U.S. and Europe nations using them as guinea pigs. To make matters worse, doctors in France were caught saying that they believe that vaccines should be tested on poor Africans. The fact that a doctor can say that in 2020 like there is nothing wrong with that statement shows that black people are still seen as less than across the globe. 

Not only do black people fear hospitals, when they do go they do not have access to the same healthcare as their white counterparts. The article also states, “Blacks are also less likely to have equitable healthcare access—meaning hospitals are farther away and pharmacies are subpar, leading to more days waiting for urgent prescriptions.” The fact that black people are less likely to have “equitable healthcare access” not only means that they have a harder time fighting the coronavirus but it also means that black people are more likely to have other conditions that make corona more deadly. 

Covid-19 has shown that black people are still treated with inequality and it is having a major effect on our health. The coronavirus has revealed that there are huge racial health disparities that African Americans face. It is crazy how 400 years after slavery black people are still mistreated in many ways and its like not much has really changed. There is no reason why black people should get treated as if we are less human than everybody else and it is not okay. 

Anonymous, 18 – Hartford, CT

In the U.S. 33% of those hospitalized by Covid-19 are African Americans while making up only 13% of the population. The coronavirus pandemic has revealed the fact that till this day black people are not treated as equals and it is causing African Americans to be more susceptible to the virus. Covid-19 has shown how there are major racial health disparities that black people have to deal with. 

The main reason that African Americans are dying from corona more than other races is because of the racial health disparities. In America you see that it is common for black people not to trust hospitals and they have every right not to. In an article on Brockings called, “Why are Blacks dying at higher rates from COVID-19”, it states, “ The United States and European nations have a long and torrid colonial legacy of using Black bodies as scientific and medical guinea pigs rather than treating them as human beings.” This shows that black people have a right to be afraid of hospitals since there is history of the U.S. and Europe nations using them as guinea pigs. To make matters worse, doctors in France were caught saying that they believe that vaccines should be tested on poor Africans. The fact that a doctor can say that in 2020 like there is nothing wrong with that statement shows that black people are still seen as less than across the globe. 

Not only do black people fear hospitals, when they do go they do not have access to the same healthcare as their white counterparts. The article also states, “Blacks are also less likely to have equitable healthcare access—meaning hospitals are farther away and pharmacies are subpar, leading to more days waiting for urgent prescriptions.” The fact that black people are less likely to have “equitable healthcare access” not only means that they have a harder time fighting the coronavirus but it also means that black people are more likely to have other conditions that make corona more deadly. 

Covid-19 has shown that black people are still treated with inequality and it is having a major effect on our health. The coronavirus has revealed that there are huge racial health disparities that African Americans face. It is crazy how 400 years after slavery black people are still mistreated in many ways and its like not much has really changed. There is no reason why black people should get treated as if we are less human than everybody else and it is not okay.