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Social Equity and COVID ‐19: The Case of African Americans
Author(s) -
Wright James E.,
Merritt Cullen C.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
public administration review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.721
H-Index - 139
eISSN - 1540-6210
pISSN - 0033-3352
DOI - 10.1111/puar.13251
Subject(s) - oppression , equity (law) , health equity , government (linguistics) , covid-19 , pandemic , political science , public health , inequality , citizen journalism , population , economic growth , democracy , sociology , development economics , health care , politics , economics , medicine , law , infectious disease (medical specialty) , disease , demography , pathology , mathematical analysis , linguistics , philosophy , nursing , mathematics
Emerging statistics demonstrate that COVID‐19 disproportionately affects African Americans. The effects of COVID‐19 for this population are inextricably linked to areas of systemic oppression and disenfranchisement, which are exacerbated by COVID‐19: (1) health care inequality; (2) segregation, overall health, and food insecurity; (3) underrepresentation in government and the medical profession; and (4) inequalities in participatory democracy and public engagement. Following a discussion of these issues, this essay shares early and preliminary lessons and strategies on how public administration scholars and practitioners can lead in crafting equitable responses to this global pandemic to uplift the African American community.