Why Is the Coronavirus Disproportionately Impacting Black Americans?

About This Mini-Lesson

In the United States, cities and states are reporting alarming data that reveals that the coronavirus is disproportionately impacting people who are black and, at least in New York City, Latinx people as well. In Chicago, black residents “are dying at a rate nearly six times greater than white residents,” and in Louisiana, “more than 70% of the people who have died are black, while African Americans only make up 32% of the state's population.” The CDC released data on April 8, 2020, which indicates that racial disparities in coronavirus hospitalizations are a nation-wide problem.

This mini-lesson is designed to help students learn about this disturbing trend and explore the underlying causes of racial inequity in coronavirus outcomes.

Mini-Lesson Plan

Activity 1: How is the coronavirus impacting black Americans?

Look at the graph “African Americans by percentage of population and share of coronavirus deaths” in the Washington Post article The Coronavirus Is Infecting and Killing Black Americans at an Alarmingly High Rate.

Reflect:

• What information can you learn from this graph?
• What do you find surprising or troubling?
• What questions does the information in this graph raise for you?

Activity 2: Why does the coronavirus impact communities differently?

This activity uses an iceberg diagram to help you learn more about the reasons why the coronavirus is disproportionately impacting black Americans. Look at this image of an iceberg:

Activity 3: How can we create a more equal society?

The data on coronavirus infection and mortality rates in black communities have brought new attention to the larger problem of inequality. Read the Urban Institute’s article COVID-19 Racial Health Disparities Highlight Why We Need to Address Structural Racism. If you’d like to go deeper, choose one of the policies linked in the article to research, for example:

• Federal jobs program
• Reforming the education finance system
• Hamilton’s proposal that every newborn be given an endowment (or “baby bond”)

Reflect:

• What would this policy change?
• How could this policy help to promote equality?
• What are the potential drawbacks of this policy?
• How could this policy help to improve equality in health in the United States?