Examining the Pandemic's Disproportionate Impact on Black Americans
In Michigan, African Americans make up 14% of the population but represent 33% of the state’s COVID-19 cases and 41% of deaths. Michigan is not unique in this respect—experts have seen similar statistics across the country. Michigan Public Health professor Enrique Neblett, a leading expert on racism and health, explains how and why the coronavirus pandemic is causing Black Americans to be infected, hospitalized and die at a higher rate than other populations—and what we as individuals and communities can do to dismantle the systemic racism that is the root cause of these health disparities.