Why COVID-19 will Impact Minorities More

Summary

The article discusses how the COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately affects minority communities due to systemic inequalities, social exclusion, and other socioeconomic factors.

Abstract

The article "Why COVID-19 will Disproportionately Impact Minorities" highlights the vulnerability of the BME (Black and Minority Ethnic) community in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. It underscores that societal inequality heavily influences the impact of the virus on minorities, with factors such as language barriers, healthcare access difficulties, and economic disparities contributing to a disproportionate effect on BME communities in wealthy countries like the USA and UK. The article suggests that beyond systemic inequalities, there are issues of social integration, trust, and information barriers that exacerbate the situation. BME individuals often live in crowded conditions due to housing and economic constraints, which further increases their risk of contracting the virus. Despite these challenges, the article points out that the BME community has strong kinship ties and a culture of mutual support, which are vital resources in combating the pandemic.

Opinions

The author believes that systemic inequality and healthcare access are almost the fundamental reasons for the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on BME communities.
It is argued that BME communities face an information barrier and have developed distrust towards society due to being targets of negative campaigns, which impacts their access to timely and accurate health information.
The article suggests that BME individuals are more likely to live in confined housing conditions, which may contribute to the spread of the virus within these communities.
The author points out that the privatization of healthcare disproportionately affects the BME community.
Despite the challenges, the BME community's strong sense of loyalty, kinship, and charitable practices is seen as a source of resilience and hope.
The article emphasizes that while the BME community is disadvantaged in the fight against COVID-19, their cultural values of compassion, empathy, and love are crucial in overcoming the pandemic's challenges.

Why COVID-19 will Disproportionately Impact Minorities

BME community are vulnerable.

It is of little doubt that inequality in society is heavily leant towards minorities. Various factors play their part in this including language, access difficulties, resources and wealth. The resounding universal conclusion is that minorities from wealthy countries are the last to access timely and well equipped healthcare; a key component of getting through COVID-19 with few health concerns.

The proportion of black and minority ethnic (BME) impacted by COVID-19 in a country such as USA or UK is disproportionate to the overall population demographics. It is quite clear from the statistics coming forth that BME communities will suffer the most through this pandemic. For a moment we will put inequality and healthcare access to one side, although I am not denying that they are almost the fundamental reasons behind the current state of affairs, and instead look at factors that are predominant in these very communities.

Potential reasons

BME communities often have difficulties in integrating and are secluded by society (general perception, there are many articles on this in Pubmed). There is a ever slight but present information barrier and therefore deficit present. Further, there are trust issues that develop as these communities are often the target of vile campaigns by the right; constantly provoking through the media and targeting the basis on which they stand. It is inevitable that you would distrust the man who mocks you who, by all means, has no idea who you really are. BME are likely to be allocated or live in confined homes, with many people forced to gather in small spaces. Rent costs, housing appropriation and distribution could be some reasons behind this. Further, health care privatisation is proven to disproportionally impact those of the BME community.

Almost in the fashion of how liquor stores entered the aborigines homelands, drugs and other illicit, health-destroying substances have entered the BEM community. There is a palpable, universal struggle to identify oneself in a community that has been burdened by the taints of society for so long (Black lives matter, for example). It is therefore difficult to expect that same society to come to your aid and distribute needed resources equally.

With reduced wealth, reduced access to health, poor living conditions and, potentially most importantly, reduced access to correct information, the BME community are potentially ill equipped to fight this pandemic. Aqin to a blind mind swatting a fly- he must use all other resources than the most useful in order to take on this task. Similarly the BEM community must gather all other reasonable resources at their disposable to take on a global pandemic that has put the entire world to standstill.

Disadvantaged? yes. Without hope? no.

Advantages

The BEM community is an example of true kinship. The loyalty demonstrated between families and friends is admirable. It stems from strong religious and community foundations (an example would be Islam). The teachings are that of loyalty, kinship, charity and supporting each other. It was narrated that the prophet in Islam said the following:

“None of you will believe until you love for your brother what you love for yourself.”

This resonates strongly amongst such communities. The lengths trodden in order to assist those who need it, the basic fundamental principle that charity is a foundation of your community teaches compassion from a very early age.

I argue, that although the above shows BEM to be disproportionately disadvantaged to combat COVID 19, we uniquely possess traits that allow us to show compassion, empathy and love during a time when it is needed most.

It is because of these fundamental factors, I believe, that we will come through this together.