Black Lens - September 2021

Page 26
September 2021
www.blacklensnews.com
The Black Lens Spokane
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A Message From COVID
to Black America
Continued From Page 19
States with large outbreaks are seeing rising case numbers among children as well as
adults. As it reaches into our communities, how does the Delta strain affect children, and
how can we help them safely navigate their days?
Lastly, Blacks should be particularly concerned about “Long Haulers” and chronic conditions.
Little to no attention is devoted in public health messaging on how this aftereffect
of COVID infection in some result in a myriad of systemic health problems. With a significant
segment of the Black population living with chronic conditions, long before the
pandemic, how well-prepared is the primary care network to handle this new burden to
an already overtaxed system? Who’s paying attention to this accident waiting to happen?
It has become apparent, after what the pandemic has shown us, that there are two different
systems addressing the health of Americans and the well-being of communities. There is
the one system that protects the needs and interests of some; while the other system leaves
the rest of the population to, basically, fend for themselves.
Most harmful to the Black population throughout the course of the COVID pandemic,
has been the absence of information that speaks, directly, to their needs and interests. The
narrative of information being disseminated from public health official; politicians; and the
media is shaped on the assumption that, “a rising tide lifts all boats”. This would be true if
all the boats were seaworthy before the tide went down. But we know that Blacks, in this
country, have some of, if not the worst health outcomes in every category - long before
the pandemic.
Going into the pandemic, we were disproportionately vulnerable and at higher risk. The
country’s efforts and resources are directed at “promoting the common good”. Regrettably,
that obviously doesn’t, and has never included us. At the very least, these eye-opening
“realities” should give Blacks enough pause to stop and think about the information, and
the understanding that is needed to make good, informed decisions about surviving this
pandemic. Don’t ever forget that information is the best medicine.
Glenn Ellis, MPH is a Visiting Scholar at The National Bioethics Center at Tuskegee
University and 2018 and 2020 Harvard Medical School Bioethics Fellow. For more good
health information visit: www.glennellis.com or @glennhealth
DIGNITY. RESPECT.
COMPASSION.
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