Covid-19 has uncovered the complex relationship that exists between health and the social, economic, and political landscape (Watson, Bacigalupe, Daneshpour, Han, & Parra-Cardona, 2020). It has forced us to reveal the injustices and inequities faced by marginalized populations, particularly the Black community. Our society is one that is dominated by White cultural values, embedded in white supremacy (Watson et al., 2020). These cultural values, as reflected in the healthcare system and throughout, contribute to stigma and in turn,shape the health, or ill-health, of populations. Further, a belief is held that everyone has equal access to goods and services, ensuring optimal health (Watson et al., 2020). However, this belief forces health to be treated as an individual matter, expecting individuals to disconnect from the social context and control their own health outcomes (Watson et al., 2020). Unfortunately, given the impact of social determinants of health, this places the Black community at a disadvantage (Watson et al., 2020).
Race has been identified as one of the most prominent health predictors (Watson et al.,2020). Inequities in access to safe “housing, employment, education and overall access to fulfilling basic physical and psychological needs” place racialized communities at a significantly higher risk of poor health (Watson et al., 2020). The Covid-19 pandemic provides a seamless example of the negative effects of social determinants of health at play. Given the adverse effects of racism and harmful sociopolitical conditions faced by Black individuals, they have been disproportionately experiencing morbidity and mortality as a result of Covid-19 (Watson et al.,2020). This pandemic has intensified the burden faced by Black people living in America, and once again, forces them to live as vulnerability bearers (Watson et al., 2020). In addition to the social determinants of health, stigma plays a large role in shaping the health of the Black community. They are continuously viewed as lazy, violent, threatening, and thus at fault for their inequities (Watson et al., 2020). Exacerbating these prejudices during Covid-19 is the highly enforced regulation of mask-wearing and face coverings. Through the analyzation emerging literature on this phenomenon, it will be understood how the prevalence of racial injustice towards the black community has increased since the inception of mask-wearing during the Covid-19 pandemic. The information provided and knowledge gained will uncover the dire need to address such inequities and racism in order to assure sufficient health care for Black people.
April 3rd, 2020, marked the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC)recommendation to wear face coverings in attempt to mitigate the transmission of Covid-19 (Brown, 2020). What has now become not only a form of protection, but a cultural icon, seems to consistently be at the center of political debate (Zine, 2020). Masks and face coverings act as a symbol of social responsibility and compliance. Those who wear masks are perceived as responsible citizens abiding to civic duty (Zine, 2020). Unfortunately, this view immediately shifts when the mask is worn by a racialized person, particularly black men (Zine, 2020). As favored by white supremacy, White people do not have to fear daily harassment or explain the atrocities of systemic racism embedded in our society to their children (Zine, 2020). They do not have debate whether risking their life is worth a fine (Zine, 2020). It is evident that the concept of white privilege has manifested itself to be a vital concept in this global pandemic.
Although well-intentioned, the enforced recommendation of mask wearing has exacerbated the Black communities chance police profiling and harassment (Brown, 2020). It may be assumed that Black men, like White people, are wearing a mask to protect the health of their communities from the transmission of Covid-19 (Brown,2020). However, due to deep-rooted stigma and racism, the immediate assumption is that they are threatening, violent, and intending to commit crime (Brown, 2020). Consequently, black men are thus presented with the decision of potential exposure to Covid-19, or the risk of police harassment (Zine, 2020). As it has been documented in the past, the latter can result in the killing of innocent black individuals.For this reason, many feel the safer option is to not wear a mask (Brown, 2020). That being said,the chances of racial harassment are just as likely when not wearing a mask. A video surfaced documenting a black man in Philadelphia being forcibly removed from a public bus by four police officers just one day after the announcement of mandatory mask-wearing (Brown, 2020).Following the incident, the mandated regulation of face-coverings was withdrawn (Brown,2020).
Unfortunately, that has not been the only incident where black men were exposed to racialized profiling by law enforcement due to face coverings. A YouTube video went viral of two black men being escorted out of a Walmart in Illinois because they were wearing surgical masks (Brown, 2020). The police officer stated that wearing such masks was prohibited, despite them using it as a form of protection from Covid-19. Shortly after, the Chief of Police released a statement saying that the prohibition of mask-wearing was completely incorrect (Brown, 2020).Evidently, this forced removal was the result of racial profiling. Further, Aaron Thomas, a Blackman living in Ohio, summarized what it feels to be Black during the pandemic in one viral tweet(Brown, 2020). “I don’t feel safe wearing a handkerchief or something else that isn’t CLEARLY a protective mask covering my face to the store because I am a Black man living in this world. I want to stay alive, but I also want to stay alive” (Thomas, 2020). Given the 18,000 reposts of this tweet, he is surely not the only one who feels this way (Brown, 2020). As a result of unjust racial profiling, Black men and boys are left to alter their appearance and clothing in attempt to be perceived as innocent. They choose to wear college t-shirts, “dress like prospects, not suspects,”and wear masks with bright colours, florals and prints (Brown, 2020).
[Thomas, A [@Aaron_TheThomas]. (2020, April 4). I don’t feel safe wearing a handkerchief or something else that isn’t CLEARLY a protective mask covering my face to the store [Screenshot]. Twitter.https://twitter.com/Aaron_TheThomas/status/1246493711032356866?s=20]
The exacerbated injustices experienced by Black men wearing, or not wearing, masks proves that racism is still alive and prevalent. Stigma and prejudice created from anti-black racism and white supremacy continue to harm and take the lives of innocent Black people. Unfortunately, Covid-19 and mandated mask-wearing has further forced this community in a place of vulnerability, marginalization, and at greater risk of worse health. From forced removal of stores and public transportation, to dirty stares in public, and mask wearing or not, harassment and racial profiling is sure to occur. Said best by Mark Banks, NAACPs’ national press secretary, “No person should be fearful of engaging in lifesaving measures due to racialism”(Brown, 2020). Unfortunately, that is that sad truth of our society and will continue to be until the dire need of racial equality has been achieved.
References
Brown, T. J. (2020, August 19). Black Men and the Dilemma of Wearing Masks During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Retrieved October 31, 2020, from https://minoritynurse.com/black-men-and-the-dilemma-of-wearing-masks-during-thecovid-19-pandemic/
Thomas, A [@Aaron_TheThomas]. (2020, April 4). I don’t feel safe wearing a handkerchief or something else that isn’t CLEARLY a protective mask covering my face to the store [Tweet]. Twitter. https://twitter.com/Aaron_TheThomas/status/1246493711032356866? s=20
Watson, M., Bacigalupe, G., Daneshpour, M., Han, W., & Parra Cardona, R. (2020). COVID 19 ‐ ‐ Interconnectedness: Health Inequity, the Climate Crisis, and Collective Trauma. Family Process, 59(3), 832–846. https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12572
Zine, J. (2020, September 06). Unmasking the racial politics of the coronavirus pandemic. Retrieved November 13, 2020, from https://theconversation.com/unmasking-the-racialpolitics-of-the-coronavirus-pandemic-139011