I’m hearing white folk rumblings like “Did they not get the public health advice? Did they not understand how dangerous it was?”

No. Stop.

All the focus on individual responsibility (hand washing & work from home) early in this crisis created an individual effort lens. But... https://twitter.com/steflonmd/status/1247734543777509376

Structural factors drive health outcomes. Full stop.

Yes, please wash your hands & work from home. Especially if you have the means to do so.

But DO NOT turn around and assume your virtuous behavior is why you’re well & others who are sick must not have understood what to do.

Economic injustice, structural racism, neglect & subjugation by government and other sources of social & cultural power mean people in low-income communities & communities of color have higher rates of chronic disease (esp. lung disease due to environmental injustice).

The essential workers who are out and about exposing themselves to infection to meet our essential needs (including many, many health care workers) are disproportionately living in low-income communities and communities of color.

So yes, they got the public health advice. Yes, they know (now better than anyone, as their families and communities are being devastated by covid in cities across the country) how bad this is.

#HealthJustice

But they’re out there on the front lines taking care of the sick, stocking food stores, delivering supplies we need. And they’re out there doing this work w/ ticking time bombs of asthma & diabetes, etc. that increase Covid risk for themselves & the loved ones they go home to.