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This is an example of why I use a framework of the viral underclass.
If a magic wand could be waved to make a virus, any virus (HIV, SARS-CoV-2, influenza) disappear tmrw, the damaging reasons why it affected certain populations would remain and STILL HARM THOSE SAME PEOPLE. https://twitter.com/nhannahjones/status/1357135299210588161
If a magic wand could be waved to make a virus, any virus (HIV, SARS-CoV-2, influenza) disappear tmrw, the damaging reasons why it affected certain populations would remain and STILL HARM THOSE SAME PEOPLE. https://twitter.com/nhannahjones/status/1357135299210588161
Viruses can help us to see harm; they are very edifying.
But the harm they illuminate for some of us has already been felt, known, experienced in lethal ways.
Sometimes that harm is directly felt, sometimes indirect—like here, where Black kids in schools are harmed.
But the harm they illuminate for some of us has already been felt, known, experienced in lethal ways.
Sometimes that harm is directly felt, sometimes indirect—like here, where Black kids in schools are harmed.
Viruses help us to see the cracks in society—even among ppl not directly infected by them.
As I wrote in @Slate last summer, I started noticing this when I covered Michael Johnson in STL, then Michael Brown—& realized Ferguson had a high rate of HIV https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2020/06/black-lives-matter-viral-underclass.html
As I wrote in @Slate last summer, I started noticing this when I covered Michael Johnson in STL, then Michael Brown—& realized Ferguson had a high rate of HIV https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2020/06/black-lives-matter-viral-underclass.html
I noticed it with George Floyd & Breonna Taylor, too—Floyd had SARS-CoV-2. As a medic, Taylor was certainly exposed to SARS-CoV-2, a lot.
Both were high risk for COVID deaths, though police ultimately killed them.
Like Michael Brown.
Both were high risk for COVID deaths, though police ultimately killed them.
Like Michael Brown.
Now, as @nhannahjones is pointing out, viruses are showing us how Black children are at risk for every reason why Black ppl are in the viral underclass.
They're in under-resourced schools.
They're used as political pawns.
They're overpoliced & too likely to be made orphans.
They're in under-resourced schools.
They're used as political pawns.
They're overpoliced & too likely to be made orphans.
Viruses help us to see how ppl who are Black, disabled, queer, incarcerated, locked in congregate care etc. are always at elevated risk for HIV, SARS-CoV-2, WNV, HVC, flu, Zika etc.
WHY ppl are in path of pathogens (& less likely to survive them) is as important as the viruses.
WHY ppl are in path of pathogens (& less likely to survive them) is as important as the viruses.
& here is where reading schools, housing, police, healthcare etc in critical ways is so important:
Absent an anti-racist, anti-capitalist approach, these Black kids WILL be hurt.
In school, out of school.
W a virus or w/o.
SARS-CoV-2 is just helping us see the structure.
Absent an anti-racist, anti-capitalist approach, these Black kids WILL be hurt.
In school, out of school.
W a virus or w/o.
SARS-CoV-2 is just helping us see the structure.
I hear ppl say things like, "It would be a shame to mess up right before a vaccine arrives." It's a bit simplistic, and I think a more helpful sentiment to consider is, "It would be a shame, after all of this, to not learn from the coronavirus."
and to me, that means...
and to me, that means...
... learning how this novel virus has exposed how the same populations keep getting harmed again & again.
As @gregggonsalves wrote, the ethical dilemmas are obvious—now, more than ever.
Can we learn from SARS-CoV-2 to stop the root harm Black kids face? https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/02/vaccine-line-illogical/617881/
As @gregggonsalves wrote, the ethical dilemmas are obvious—now, more than ever.
Can we learn from SARS-CoV-2 to stop the root harm Black kids face? https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/02/vaccine-line-illogical/617881/
