Given that the time frame of analy sis contained in this book predates the arrival in Amer i ca of notable variant strains, including the Delta strain of sars-CoV-2, we will refer to the initial strain of the disease caused by sars-CoV-2 as covid-19 and the era in which it became widespread as the covid-19 pandemic. Newer (or alternate) strains of sars-CoV-2 will be identified as such.Furthermore, given this collection's focus on racial disparities as related to the covid-19 pandemic, we use a variety of terms to refer to diff er ent races and ethnicities. While we recognize each term has strengths and shortcomings, we are inclined primarily to use black and white-both lowercase to reflect that race, despite having deleterious and disparate effects, is a construct rather than a biological classification-to denote individuals, families, and communities of those skin tones.Moreover, when discussing individuals of the Latino community, we will typically employ the term Latinos or Latinx, a decision that is further explained in the chapter by Sánchez and colleagues. When the term Hispanic is used in the data sets that are utilized throughout the book, we use that term in the text for clarity and consistency.
This page intentionally left blankIntroduction. Six Feet and Miles Apart: Structural Racism in the United States and Racially Disparate Outcomes during the COVID-19 Pandemic lucas hubbard, gwendolyn l. wright, and william a. darity jr. 22 hubbard, wright, and darity www . federalreserve . gov / econres / notes / feds -notes / disparities -in -wealth -by -race -and -ethnicity -in -the -2019 -survey -of -consumer -finances -20200928 . htm.