Lack of Representation in the Time of COVID-19: Who Counts During a Pandemic and Why It Matters

The available racial data released at the federal, state, and grassroots level shows that COVID-19 has disproportionately affected the health of Black Americans, with a mortality rate 2.2xs higher than that of other races. They have also experienced deep economic impacts as a result of the virus, leading to 16% of Blacks reporting being laid off and furloughed since the outbreak began. However with an incomplete picture of the total impacts of the pandemic on Black Americans, it is difficult to know the extent of challenges they are facing, the relative inequality of these impacts, and how best to address them. A lack of representation, in this instance in data, has material consequences in reality. In Day 2 of our campaign we'll look at another community underrepresented in COVID-19 data, but overrepresented in negative impacts related to this pandemic.
.
All sources are linked here: https://linktr.ee/UCSBBlumCenter

Click on the documents below for more, and don't forget to check out our Instagram and Facebook pages for additional information.

Originally posted 6/1/20, updated 6/17/20.