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I have spent the last two years WWS helping MPA/MPP students think abt cultural competence & encouraging them to adopt race analysis as policy analysis.
The recent data on coronavirius deaths by race illustrate why this is critical, esp. during a disaster. 1/n
The recent data on coronavirius deaths by race illustrate why this is critical, esp. during a disaster. 1/n
@MTColemanJr and I presented on some of these challenges @TrumanProject's #TruCon18, drawing on data from FEMA's national survey on preparedness. 2/n
What we know is that people are generally underprepared for disaster, and that there are barriers to getting them ready. Perhaps not surprising, there are racial differences on almost every indicator of preparedness.
But this is not a story about *them* failing to prepare. 3/n
But this is not a story about *them* failing to prepare. 3/n
And it is not simply about poor health. Focusing on underlying racialized morbidity/mortality is right but it is also incomplete; we knew these disparities existed. Indeed, there were warnings that ppl underlying health conditions were at greater risk. 4/n
But that framing alone understates the importance of expanding the capacity of public systems to prepare racially and ethnically diverse communities for public health emergencies. FEMA has thought a lot abt building cultural competence, but it's not at scale. 5/n
The first recognition in this effort is that while we want gov't to be a credible source during crisis, many racially marginalized communities simply do not trust gov't.
Suspicion and mistrust take hold, for legitimate reasons, creating challenges in awareness & compliance. 6/n
Suspicion and mistrust take hold, for legitimate reasons, creating challenges in awareness & compliance. 6/n
What's more, they look at other failure events and learn lessons that reinforce their misgivings about government. 7/n
No surprise then that Andrulis et al. (2007) argues "informing diverse communities [of public health emergencies] will require agencies and providers to tailor public health messages, [and] use trusted messengers..."
see also: https://emergency.cdc.gov/cerc/cerccorner/article_050616.asp
8/n
see also: https://emergency.cdc.gov/cerc/cerccorner/article_050616.asp
8/n
Dr. Fauci's interview w. Steph Curry is one good example.
However, there is some evidence that black ppl are more likely than any other group to receive disaster preparedness info from work and faith-based orgs (church).
9/n
However, there is some evidence that black ppl are more likely than any other group to receive disaster preparedness info from work and faith-based orgs (church).
9/n
But the patchwork of (mis)info, inc. severity/seriousness of threat & the continuity of services, has made risk comm. confusing. Not to mention blacks' representation in low-wage jobs, inc. in local government, where they are now *essential workers*
9/n
9/n
A second challenge is that racially marginalized communities learn early on that gov't can be riskier than disaster. Administrative burdens and their costs compromise program take-up (e.g., testing).
This has layers on layers, but let's focus on immigrant populations. 9/n
This has layers on layers, but let's focus on immigrant populations. 9/n
The scope of impact on other racial minority groups is not yet clear, with the exception that AAPIs are experiencing increased xenophobia b/c of trumped up framing of yellow peril. 10/n https://www.npr.org/2020/03/02/811363404/when-xenophobia-spreads-like-a-virus
But there are consequences for undocumented Latino immigrants, too.
Let's begin with Pedraza et al's (2017) finding that priming immigration issues undermines health care uptake among Latino *citizens. 11/n
Let's begin with Pedraza et al's (2017) finding that priming immigration issues undermines health care uptake among Latino *citizens. 11/n
Imagine, then, the reluctance of undocumented immigrants taking-up of, say, testing or medical consultation after reading about ICE raids during a pandemic. 12/n https://www.vox.com/2020/3/19/21184081/trump-coronavirus-immigration-enforcement-courts-ice
Reducing the spread of a virus like COVID19, or any other disaster, cannot be done w/o some actionable recognition that different people have experienced the administrative state differently.
Centering the margins is essential to this undertaking.
13/n
Centering the margins is essential to this undertaking.
13/n
Y'all stay healthy and safe.
