This week we wanted to revisit a piece from June that outlines the differential impact of the pandemic on marginalized communities and explains where these disparities stem from. But first: here’s a quick recap of our recent projects and pieces:
in case you missed last week’s issue, Emily Oster and Maven have partnered to create a free, evidence-based tool to help parents decide whether to send their children out of the home to school/daycare or keep them at home for virtual learning
our childcare tracking efforts continue! a summary of the data and ways to get involved can be found here
And as always, we continue to welcome your comments and suggestions (we really do read all of them!). Our contact information can be found at the bottom of this (and every) issue.
Explainer Highlight: Racial Disparities in COVID-19
This explainer, broadly, has three parts: (1) establishing that these inequities exist, (2) explaining their causes, and (3) explaining how to report data and discuss these issues in a responsible manner that does not, even inadvertently, cause misunderstanding. These disparities are very real and very well-documented and, critically, are not caused by genetic or biological differences between racial groups, but rather by the structural inequities caused by racism. For an in-depth breakdown of the evidence and the public health-related and physiological impacts of racism that have played a role in heightening the effects of the pandemic on marginalized populations, particularly on many Black communities, we highly recommend you read the piece. If you’re in a pinch, see our infographic below:
Please feel free to share your thoughts, questions, and concerns — you can get a hold of us via email, Twitter, Instagram, and the site itself.