Racism and the Political Economy of COVID-19: Will We Continue to Resurrect the Past?

Abstract

COVID-19 is not spreading over a level playing field; structural racism is embedded within the fabric of American culture, infrastructure investments, and public policy, and fundamentally drives inequities. The same racism that has driven the systematic dismantling of the American social safety-net has also created the policy recipe for American structural vulnerability to the impacts of this and other pandemics. The Bronx provides an important case study for investigating the historical roots of structural inequities showcased by this pandemic; current lived experiences of Bronx residents are rooted in the racialized dismantling of New York City’s public infrastructure and systematic disinvestment. The story of the Bronx is repeating itself, only this time with a novel virus. In order to address the root causes of inequities in cases and deaths due to COVID-19, we need to focus not just on restarting the economy, but on reimagining the economy, divesting of systems rooted in racism and the devaluation of Black and Brown lives.

COVID-19, Social Determinants Past, Present, and Future, and African Americans’ Health

“…Those who would voluntarily abandon work to reduce exposure to COVID-19 are sometimes denied the opportunity to do so. African Americans' occupations render them more likely to be considered "essential workers," including grocery store, food service, health care, and courier workers, and they continue to perform their vocations in an environment of greater risk [37]. A recent study demonstrated that African Americans who were at high risk for severe illness for 1.6 time more likely than whites to live in households containing health-sector workers, and 56.5% of Black adults at high risk live in households were at least one worker is unable to work from home, compared to only 46.6% among whites [38].…”

Complex systems models for causal inference in social epidemiology

“…Although some have argued that variation in underlying health status is to blame, 46 it is more likely the disparities in both health status and COVID-19 stem from wide-spread structural problems, including systemic and structural racism; racial capitalism, in which racial oppression is crucial for the accumulation of capital rooted in American culture, 47 and medical racism, in which minoritized individuals receive lower quality care and experience greater delays and barriers to accessing healthcare. 48–60…”

From Poor to Worse: Health Policy and Politics Scholars’ Assessment of the U.S. COVID‐19 Response and Its Implications

“…In the United States, virtually everyone has been affected by the pandemic, with a recent poll indicating that only 12 percent of Americans see their personal lives as largely untouched (Pew Research Center, 2020a). Yet, “COVID‐19 is not spreading over a level playing field” (Bailey & Moon, 2020), and mortality from COVID‐19 “is not an equal opportunity threat” (Alberti, Lantz, & Wilkins, 2020). As a growing body of research indicates, existing inequities and structural inequalities have been exacerbated by the pandemic (Alberti et al, 2020; Bailey & Moon, 2020; McNeely, Schintler, & Stabile, 2020; Pollack, 2020), and the financial and health effects on Americans have been unequally distributed, with lower‐income and minority Americans bearing the brunt of the hardship (Lopez, Rainie, & Budiman, 2020; Parker, Minkin, & Bennett, 2020; Pew Research Center, 2020e).…”

“…Yet, “COVID‐19 is not spreading over a level playing field” (Bailey & Moon, 2020), and mortality from COVID‐19 “is not an equal opportunity threat” (Alberti, Lantz, & Wilkins, 2020). As a growing body of research indicates, existing inequities and structural inequalities have been exacerbated by the pandemic (Alberti et al, 2020; Bailey & Moon, 2020; McNeely, Schintler, & Stabile, 2020; Pollack, 2020), and the financial and health effects on Americans have been unequally distributed, with lower‐income and minority Americans bearing the brunt of the hardship (Lopez, Rainie, & Budiman, 2020; Parker, Minkin, & Bennett, 2020; Pew Research Center, 2020e). These inequities also carry over into the healthcare field, as racial disparities in mortality for essential workers have also become increasingly apparent (Rogers et al, 2020).…”