SAVE POOR CHILDREN AND NEEDY FAMILIES

The coronavirus pandemic has caused the deaths of over 50,000 Americans, including those from every region, race and socioeconomic background. However, the virus has hit hardest those of modest means, particularly Black Americans, far out of proportion to their numbers. While it has long been understood that wealth, race and health are closely tied, COVID-19 has focused attention on the high human cost of structural inequalities in American society. Research shows that poor and working poor Americans are most vulnerable to COVID-19.

They are much more likely to have underlying health conditions like hypertension, chronic lung disease, diabetes and heart disease. A preliminary study by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) finds that nearly nine of 10 individuals hospitalized with COVID-19 suffer from such conditions. Black Americans are twice as likely as white  Americans to live in poverty. Partly as a result, they are more likely to contract the virus, be hospitalized for it and die from it. While no comprehensive national data are yet available, a preliminary CDC report found that one-third of those hospitalized were Black, while they made up only 18% of those in the study.

In New York City, which has suffered the largest outbreak of COVID-19, Blacks are twice as likely as Whites to die from the disease. Nevertheless, there have been reports that Blacks showing symptoms of the coronavirus may be less likely to be tested for it.

A degrading situation in our country and the world, in general, has reduced the poor to extreme poverty. If nothing is done to save the lives of our brothers and sisters, the world will find itself in unexpected suffering.