Listening to the pandemic report the other day, I was taken aback by the report of Blacks having the ailment more so than other ethnic groups. I believe it is because the black people, most of the time, segregate themselves into one large area over another. Most of these areas you can call a food desert.
These areas are not only apartment housing but there are many single-family housings with minimal scattering of other ethnic groups. In this area, rarely will there be medical offices, pharmacies, grocery stores, etc. Where these places are is far from the areas where people live. When there is an illness, transportation is required to transit the long distance.
Then there is that most young people, across all ethnic groups, rarely (if at all) read or listen to the daily news. They rather tweet or text others and maybe they may hear something that is going on, usually from someone much older. Ask a young person about a worldly event and the answer usually is that they haven’t heard anything about it. In this way, they knew of the pandemic much later than others. They could have been a carrier or have the full-blown virus and never knew it was possible or what was happening to them.
Young people love to party and take chances. They normally say that it’ll never happen to them or they are careful and there is nothing to worry about. The President would not demand a national wearing of face masks but, instead, left it to the individual states to impose the law. When the states imposed the law most young people disregarded the order. When the states demanded social distancing among all people and establishments, most young people didn’t do it.
I’ll give you an example about what I am talking about. I had to go out (one of the very few times I ventured out) to make a quick pick-up. In the store I noticed a Latino couple with three kids. They didn’t have a face mask and the kids were loudly running and playing all over the store. A couple of times the kids ran into me while they were playing. The parents did not say anything. At the check-out, two people were working, one had a mask and one did not. Neither had gloves. I noticed a few Blacks shopping, not a mask to be seen. Ironically, all of the White shoppers had masks.
The pandemic is hitting the Black population hard but, from what I have witnessed, most can blame it on lack of caring for themselves and others. They can be a part of the solution by trying to protect themselves and others. To do this, at least wear a mask (factory made or homemade) and practice social distancing. If we all work together, maybe we can beat this virus sooner than later and save a few lives. Young people, no matter what ethnic group they belong, can catch this virus and, at worst, die. Babies as well as adults, no matter the age or health, have also caught it. Be smart and live.