Exploring Disparities in COVID-19 Impact on African Americans

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Disparities in COVID-19 Cases and Deaths
   • 2.1 Structural Conditions and Neighborhood Disparities
   • 2.2 Lack of Access to Healthcare Resources
   • 2.3 Impact of Economic Situation
3. Essential Jobs and Exposure
   • 3.1 African Americans in Essential Jobs
   • 3.2 Leaving Neighborhoods and Increased Exposure
   • 3.3 Unfair Wages and Hazard Pay
4. Challenges in Hospital Treatment
   • 4.1 Anecdotal Evidence of Bias
   • 4.2 Turning Away Patients with Pre-existing Conditions
   • 4.3 Patient-Physician Relationship
5. Trump's Claims and Cost in November
   • 5.1 Empirical Evidence Contradicting Trump's Claims
   • 5.2 Unemployment Rate and Digital Divide
   • 5.3 Quality of Jobs under Trump's Presidency
6. Conclusion

Disparities in COVID-19 Cases and Deaths

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has revealed significant disparities in the number of cases and deaths among different racial and ethnic groups. In particular, African Americans have been disproportionately affected by the virus. According to research conducted by Dr. Roshan Raya Rubinstein, a fellow at the Brookings Institution and an associate professor of sociology at the University of Maryland, in states like Michigan, Wisconsin, Louisiana, and Illinois, blacks are about 75% more likely than their percentage of the state population to contract and die from the coronavirus. However, these disparities cannot be solely attributed to comorbidities or pre-existing conditions among African Americans. Rather, they are a result of structural conditions that place black people in certain neighborhoods with limited access to essential resources.

2.1 Structural Conditions and Neighborhood Disparities

Predominantly black neighborhoods often lack healthy food options, green spaces, lighting, safety measures, and pharmacies. These neighborhood disparities contribute to the higher risk of COVID-19 transmission and mortality among African Americans. Moreover, during the current pandemic, black neighborhoods have faced additional challenges, such as a lack of testing places and triage centers. This means that when the virus hits these communities after the incubation period, individuals are further exposed to the virus, leading to a higher likelihood of severe illness and death.

2.2 Lack of Access to Healthcare Resources

Another key factor contributing to the disparities in COVID-19 cases and deaths among African Americans is the limited access to healthcare resources. Many black neighborhoods do not have adequate healthcare facilities, including hospitals and clinics, resulting in delayed or limited access to testing and treatment. In some cases, black individuals have reported being sent home from hospitals without receiving proper medical care, especially if they have pre-existing conditions. This lack of access and unequal treatment exacerbates the outcomes and puts African Americans at a higher risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19.

2.3 Impact of Economic Situation

The economic situation of many African Americans also plays a significant role in their vulnerability to COVID-19. According to the Economic Policy Institute, only 20% of black workers reported being eligible to work from home, compared to about 30% of their white counterparts. This means that a larger percentage of African Americans need to physically go to work, even in the midst of the pandemic, because they cannot afford to stay home without pay. This puts them at a higher risk of exposure to the virus, as they often work in essential jobs such as grocery store workers, sanitation workers, bus drivers, and train drivers. Despite representing only 13% of the United States population, African Americans make up about 20% of these essential jobs. Moreover, many black Americans working in these essential jobs are still paid low wages that do not reflect the risks they are taking and the value of their work.

In conclusion, the disparities in COVID-19 cases and deaths among African Americans can be attributed to a combination of structural conditions, limited access to healthcare resources, and the impact of economic inequality. Addressing these underlying factors is crucial to effectively mitigating the disparate impact of the virus on African American communities.

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