Race, Ethnicity, and the COVID-19 Pandemic

Racial and ethnic minorities in the United States are disproportionately affected by COVID-19 infections and deaths due to racial inequality. This volume examines how the socioeconomic impact of the pandemic led to different and poorer outcomes for Black, Latino, and Native American populations, and offers recommendations to create a foundation for future response and research.

Format: Hardback
Length: 400 pages
Publication date: 15 March 2023
Publisher: University of Cincinnati Press

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on racial and ethnic minorities in the United States. To better understand the disparities in infections and deaths among these groups, it is essential to examine the link between racial inequality and COVID-19 outcomes.

In the United States, the advantages conferred by whiteness result in lower rates of COVID-19 infections and deaths compared to Black, Latino, and Native American populations. Experts attribute these differences to factors such as population density, underlying health conditions, and the proportion of essential workers in each community.

The national response to the pandemic has highlighted the underlying racialized social structure in the country. A prestigious group of sociologists assembled in this volume explores how the socioeconomic impact of the pandemic led to distinct and poorer outcomes for Black, Latino, and Native American populations during the first year of the pandemic. While color-blindness shaped national discussions on essential workers, charity, and differential mortality, minorities were overwhelmingly affected.

The essays in this collection provide a comprehensive examination of the progress and direction of the COVID-19 response, as well as personal accounts of the stark differences in care and outcomes for minorities across the United States. They offer recommendations to build a foundation for future response and research during the critical early days of the pandemic.

It is crucial to address the underlying social and economic factors that contribute to racial disparities in COVID-19 infections and deaths. This includes investing in healthcare infrastructure, promoting access to affordable healthcare, addressing systemic racism, and promoting diversity and inclusion in all aspects of society. By addressing these issues, we can work towards creating a more equitable and just society for all.

Dimension: 10 x 7 x 1 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781947602878