The Pandemic’s Disproportionate Impact on People of Color

WE'LL BE TALKING NOW ABOUT HOW THIS HAS DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED PEOPLE OF CHORE.

THE MORTALITY RATE FOR BLACK AMERICANS IS ALMOST TWO AND A HALF TIMES HIGHER THAN THE RATE FOR WHITES.

AND OUR NEXT GUEST DR. HELENE GAYLE EXPLAINS WHY.

SHE IS THE FORMER DIRECTOR FOR THE CDC'S NATIONAL CENTER FOR HIV, STD AND TB PREVENTION.

SHE NOW LEADS THE CHICAGO COMMUNITY TRUST.

HERE SHE IS SPEAKING WITH MICHEL MARTIN ABOUT THIS.

THANK YOU.

DR. GAYLE, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I HATE TO START WITH THIS.

BUT YOU'VE HAD 20 YEARS WITH THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL, YOU'VE WORKED IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES ANDO RODE.

I'M GUESSING THAT YOU WERE AWARE OF THIS PANDEMIC LITTLE EARLIER, WHAT THE POSSIBLE IMPLICATIONS COULD BE EARLIER THAN A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE.

AS WE ARE SPEAKING NOW, SOME 92,000 DEATHS IN THE UNITED STATES LONDON.

1.5 MILLION INFECTIONS.

DID YOU SEE THIS COMING?

THIS MAGNITUDE?

ALL OF US WHO HAVE BEEN FOCUSED ON THESE ISSUES KNEW THAT SOMETHING LIKE THIS WAS POSSIBLE.

I DON'T THINK ANY OF US REALLY PREDICTED HOW FAST AND HOW FURIOUS THIS PLR PANDEMIC WOULD UNFOLD.

I THINK WE DEFINITELY COULD HAVE SEEN THE SIGNS MUCH EARLIER.

AS WE SAW IT UNFOLDING AROUND THE WORLD, I THINK IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A WARNING TO US TO QUICKLY ACT AND MUCH MORE QUICKLY THAN WE DID AT A TIME WHEN THE INFECTIONS WERE NOT AS PREVALENT IN THE COMMUNITY.

THE TIMING WHEN YOU PUT ACTIONS INTO PLACE IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT.

DOING IT EARLY DOES HAVE A HUGE IMPACT ON HOW YOU STEM THE TIDE.

AND I THINK WE COULD HAVE, AND THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE SAID, YOU KNOW, IT WAS SARS YESTERDAY, EBOLA THE DAY BEFORE.

IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME WHEN ANOTHER INFECTIOUS DISEASE COPS THROUGH OUR POPULATION.

WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN READY.

WE SHOULD HAVE ACTED EARLIER.

NOW WE'RE SEEING THE CONSEQUENCES.

RECOGNIZING THAT IT IS HARD FOR TO US CRITICIZE OUR COLLEAGUES, WHAT ABOUT THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL IN ALL THIS?

EVEN THE ADMINISTRATION HAS CRITICIZED THAT AGENCY FOR THE EARLY TESTS.

CREATING A BOTTLENECK WITH THE TESTIMONIES.

EFFECTIVELY, THEY WERE INEFFECTIVE.

WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THAT?

THE FACT THERE WERE FLAWS IN THE ORIGINAL TESTS, PEOPLE WERE MOVING FAST.

BUT THAT DOES NOT MOAN THAT THIS AGENCY THE CAPACITY IF GIVEN THE RIGHT TOOLS, GIVEN THE RIGHT RESOURCES, AND GIVEN THE ABILITY TO DO ITS TASK, THAT IT COULD NOT HAVE DONE IT MORE RAPIDLY.

YOU'RE SAYING YOU DON'T THINK IT IS INCOMPETENCE.

YOU THINK IT IS A MATTER OF WHAT?

UNDERFUNDING?

WHAT DO YOU THINK IT IS?

BECAUSE IT IS THE LEADERSHIP OF THE AGENCY.

I THINK IT IS HARD FROM OUTSIDE TO MAKE DIAGNOSIS WHAT THE CHALLENGES ARE.

I KNOW WHEN THE FEDERAL SYSTEM WORKS WELL, WHEN WE HAVE LEADERSHIP AT THE TOP, WHEN THE DEPARTMENTS ARE WELL COORDINATED AND THE AGENCIES WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT HAVE WHAT THEY NEED, WE'RE ABLE TO DELIVER.

AND I THINK WE WEREN'T ABLE TO DELIVER BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE ALL THOSE PIECES IN PLACE.

WHEN THEY HAVE THE RESOURCES THEY NEED, WHEN THE MANDATES OF AGENCIES ARE ALLOWED TO ON OPERATE AND DO WHAT THEY DO BEST.

I THINK WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT, WHERE WERE THE STUMBLING BLOCKS?

WHERE WAS THE DOOR COORDINATION, THE FOCUS THIS WAS SOMETHING SERIOUS SO ALL HANDS WERE ON DECK AND EVERYBODY WAS WORKING TO THEIR CAPACITY.

SO LET'S TO GO HOW THIS DISEASE IS AFFECTING DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES DIFFERENTLY.

I KNOW PEOPLE LIKE THE SAY, WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.

THE VIRUS DOESN'T CARE IF YOU'RE RICH OR POOR OR WHO YOU ARE.

IT KIND OF FEELS LIKE THAT'S NOT TRUE.

CHICAGO LONDON, THE CITY IS 30% AFRICAN-AMERICANS BUT 70% OF THE DEATHS.

THE DEATH RATE FOR AFRICAN-AMERICANS IS HIGHER THAN ANY OTHER GROUP IN THE COUNTRY.

THE COVID-19 MORTALITY FOR BLACK AMERICANS IS 2.4 TIMES AS HIGH AS THE RATE FOR WHITES.

HOW DO YOU UNDERSTAND THAT?

THE DEATH RATE, PARTICULARLY THE HIGHER DEATH RATE IN AFRICAN-AMERICANS IS PROBABLY EXPLAINED BY THE FACT AFRICAN-AMERICANS ALSO HAVE A DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT OF DISEASES.

IT IS A WORSE OUTCOME.

LUNG DISEASES, ET CETERA.

IT MEANS IF YOU GET THIS, YOU'RE LIKELY SERIOUS COMPLICATIONS AND DEATH.

BUT IT IS ALSO ABOUT THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC FACTORS FOR PEOPLE TO BEGIN WITH.

HERE IN CHICAGO, THERE IS A 30-84 LIFE EXPECTANCY GAP WITHIN A FIVE-MILE DISTANCE FROM AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN NEIGHBORHOOD COMPARED TO A DOWNTOWN PRIMARILY WHITE NEIGHBORHOOD.

SO AS WE CALL THEN, THAT IMPACT ON WHO LIVES, WHO DIES.

THERE'S THAT FACTOR.

THE THING WE HAVE TO CONTINUALLY REMIND OURSELVES, THIS IS A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE BUT THE GREATEST CONSEQUENCES ARE ECONOMIC.

STAY-AT-HOME SHUTDOWN THAT HAS ALSO SHUT DOWN OUR ECONOMY, THOSE WHO ARE ALSO MOST ECONOMICALLY IN VULNERABLE POSITIONS ARE ALSO SEEING THE WORST OF THIS IN TERMS OF THE ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES.

AND REMEMBER, THAT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ESSENTIAL WORKERS HAVING TO CONTINUE TO WORK, WE'RE OFTEN TALKING ABOUT BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE WHO ARE IN OUR GROCERY STORES, FACTORIES, WHO ARE PUTTING THEMSELVES AT RISK EVERY DAY BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO MAKE TOUGH CHOICES ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT I CONTINUE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A JOB, TO PUT INFORMED ON MY FAMILY'S PLATES OR DO I STAY AT HOME.

AND IF I LIVE IN A MULTIGENERATIONAL HOME OR A SMALL APARTMENT WITH MULTIPLE MEMBERS OF MY FAMILY, HOW DO YOU SOCIAL DISTANCE?

AND THOSE FAMILY MEMBERS ARE ALSO GOING TO JOBS THAT PUT THEM AT RISK.

SO THIS IS JUST FACTOR UPON FACTOR THAT IS MAKING IN MANY WAYS, UNMASKING SOME OF THE SOCIAL INEQUITIES THAT EXISTED.

YOU KEEP MOVING OUR CONVERSATION TOWARD THE EQUALITY QUESTION.

ONE OF THE REASONS WE CALLED YOU, AFTER A VERY LONG CAREER IN THE PUBLIC HEALTH SPACE, IN THE INFECTIOUS DISEASE SPACE, YOU FOCUS INEQUALITY.

WHY IS THAT SO RELEVANT HERE?

AS A PUBLIC HEALTH PROFESSIONAL, YOU KNOW, MY GOALER AS PUBLIC HEALTH PROFESSIONAL, I GUESS, IS TO LONG AT HEALTH AND HEALTH EQUITY.

TO MAKE SURE ALL PEOPLE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE A HEALTHY LIFE.

IF YOU PIERCE BELOW WHAT WE CONSIDER TO BE PART OF THE MEDICAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH TOOL KIT, WE RECOGNIZE THAT SO MUCH OF THE DISPARITIES WE SEE IN HEALTH ARE NOT DETERMINED BY ACCESS TO HEALTH AND HEALTH SERVICES.

THAT PROBABLY AMOUNTS TO 20 TO 40%, THE REST IS MORE DETERMINED BY THINGS.

ACCESS TO A LIVING WANING INCOME.

PUBLIC SAFETY.

ACCESS TO NUTRITIOUS INFORMED.

ALL THESE THINGS HAVE A GRITTER IMPACT ON HEALTH OUTCOMES THAN WHAT WE CAN DO BY GETTING ACCESS TO CHARACTER.

YOU HAVE TO LONG AT THESE UNDERLYING ROT CAUSES, FOR ME IT WAS A NATURAL PROGRESS, FINDING WHAT I CAN DO IN THE SOCIETAL DROIRS OF POOR HEALTH.

I'VE BEEN WORKING HEALTH.

TRY TO KEEP POEM THERE GETTING SICK AND HELP SICK PEOPLE GET WELL.

WHAT I NEED TO BE DOING IS FOCUS ON THESE IMMENSE WEALTH GAPS.

I WORK FOR OVER 20 YEARS ON HIV AND AIDS.

BOTH IN THIS COUNTRY AS WELL AS GLOBALLY.

I THINK PARTICULARLY GLOBALLY, IT PLAYS OUT SO CLEARLY.

IT IS THE INEQUITY, THE LACK OF SOCIAL STATUS, THE LACK OF ABILITY TO CONTROL ONE'S LIFE.

IT REALLY DOES INFLUENCE WHO IS AT RISK AND WHO IS NOT AT RISK.

WE SAW THE SAME THING HERE AS HIV CONTINUED TO IMPACT COMMUNITIES OF COLOR MORE.

SO I THINK AS I CONTINUE TO WORK IN MY CAREER, I GRADUALLY MIGRATED TO WHERE I THOUGHT I COULD HAVE THE MOST IMPACT.

AS AN ORGANIZATION, MY ORGANIZATION, THE CHICAGO COMMUNITY TRUST, WHICH IS CHICAGO'S MAIN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, WE'VE MADE IT OUR HIGHEST PRIORITY CLOSING THE GAP FOR ALL THE REASONS THAT I SAID IT IS SO POOR AND FUNDAMENTAL.

AND WE'VE LOOKED AT THAT AND THOUGHT ABOUT THREE WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN INVEST.

FIRST, WHAT DO WE DO TO INCREASE WE THINK AND ASSETS AT THE HOUSEHOLD LEVEL.

INCREASING JOBS, PEOPLE'S ABILITY TO OWN HOMES AND DEVELOP ASSETS THROUGH HOME OWNERSHIP.

BUILDING SMALL BUSINESSES.

WE KNOW THAT SMALL BUSINESSES ARE A HUGE DRIVER OF JOBS IN THIS COUNTRY.

A MAY KNOWER DRIVER.

HOW DO YOU REVERSE THE DEBT BURDEN THAT OFTEN SADDLES FAMILIES.

EVEN WITH GROWING INCOME AND ABILITY TO GET WE THINK.

WHAT CAN WE DO AT THE NEIGHBORHOOD LEVEL?

IF YOU LOOK AT CHICAGO LIKE SO MANY OTHER CITIES, THERE IS GREAT DISPARITY IN TERMS OF THE INVESTMENT IN DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS.

WE WANT TO LOOK AT HOW CAN WE HELP DRIVE INVESTMENT IN THE HISTORICALLY UNDERINVESTED NEIGHBORHOODS SO ECONOMIC VITALITY CAN NOURISH.

WHEN YOU START HAVING BUSINESSES, DEVELOPMENT, STREETS ARE SAFER, PEOPLE WANT TO MOVE BACK INTO THESE NEIGHBORHOODS.

SO CAN WE MAKE THESE NEIGHBORHOODS HISTORICALLY UNDER INVESTED, VIBRANT BY, AND THEN AT THE COMMUNITY LEVEL, HOW DO WE ENGAGE CITIZENS SO THEY CAN TAKE THE KIND OF ACTIONS AND BE AT THE TABLE SO WHEN DRIGSS MADE ABOUT THEIR LIVES AND THE LIVES OF THEIR NEIGHBORS, THEY'RE EMPOWERED AND THEY CAN ACTUALLY DRIVE THE CHANGE THAT HAPPENS IN THEIR OWN NEIGHBORHOODS.

HOW DOES THIS ARGUMENT SELL?

TRADITIONALLY THIS COUNTRY HAS BEEN VERY RELUCTANT TO PARTICIPATE IN INCOME LEVELING MECHANISMS.

RIGHT?

THERE'S A HUGE FIGHT OVER SOCIAL SECURITY.

EVENTUALLY WE ACCEPTED IT AS SOMETHING THAT GIVES DIGNITY TO THE MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE.

PARTICULARLY HAD SENIORS BUT ALSO KIDS WHO LOST A PARENT OR SOMEONE DISABLED.

WE ARE RELUCTANT TO SAY EVERYBODY DESERVES A BASIC FLOOR OF INCOME.

PARTICULARLY WHEN THEY'RE YOUNGER.

HOW ARE YOU PLAYINGING THIS ARGUMENT TO PEOPLE?

IF I WERE IN THIS SITUATION IN CHICAGO, TWO-THIRDS OF THE POPULATION ARE PEOPLE OF COLOR.

AFRICAN-AMERICANS.

BUT TWO-THIRDS OF THOSE GROUPS HAVE LESS THAN TWO TO THREE MONTHS WORTH OF SAVINGS.

SO IF THEY'RE OUT OF WORK, FOR A MONTH OR TWO, THEY ARE PLUNGED INTO POVERTY.

WE CAN'T HAVE TWO-THIRDS OF OUR POPULATION TEETERING ON THE BRINK OF POVERTY AND EXPECT THAT OUR ECONOMY WILL MOVE FORWARD.

IT HAS BEEN DEMONSTRATED TIME AND TIME AGAIN.

IF YOU JUST RUN THE NUMBERS, THE ABILITY FOR US TO MOVE FORWARD AS AN ECONOMY WHEN TWO-THIRDS OF OUR POPULATION IS BEING HELD BACK DOESN'T BODE WELL.

WE HELP TO SUPPORT A REPORT THAT CAME OUT A FEW YEARS AGO THAT DEMONSTRATED THAT THE COST OF SEGREGATION IN CHICAGO WAS UPWARDS OF $4 BILLION.

AND IF WE WERE ABLE TO DECREASE THE SEGREGATION IN THE CITY, AND GIVE OPPORTUNITIES MORE EQUALLY, IT WOULD ADD AS MUCH AS $8 BILLION IN GDP TO THE CHICAGO ECONOMY.

SO THERE'S HARD EVIDENCE OF WHY IN FACT, EQUITY MATTERS, AND WHY TEARING DOWN SOME OF THE SYSTEMIC BARRIERS TO EQUITY IS COSTING US MORE.

IF WE LOOK AT IT AS A NATION.

WE ARE MOVING TO BE A MAJORITY-MINORITY SOCIETY, IT IS IN ALL OF OUR INTERESTS TO MAKE SURE THE ABILITY TO REALIZE THEIR ECONOMIC POTENTIAL SO WE CAN ALL MOVE FORWARD.

AND I THINK THAT SOME OF THE THINGS WE HAVE DONE AS A RESULT OF THIS PANDEMIC THROUGH SOME OF THE CONGRESSIONAL LEGISLATION HAS BE GIVEN US THE BLUEPRINT FOR SOME THINGS COULD DO IN THE FUTURE OF SO THE FACT THAT SMALL BUSINESSES ARE GETTING ACCESS TO LOANS THAT PERHAPS NEVER HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THE KIND OF FLEXIBLE LENDING.

THERE IS PROTECTION FOR WORKERS.

THE FACT THAT WE'RE GIVING CASH TO PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THEMSELVES THROUGH THIS CRISIS.

LET'S LOOK AT SOME OF THOSE THINGS.

LET'S LONG AT WHAT IT TAKES TO HAVE BROAD BAND ACCESS TO EVERYBODY SO OUR YOUNG PEOPLE ARE NOT LOSING MONTHS AND MONTHS HAVE EDUCATION BECAUSE OF THE DIGITAL DIVIDE IN OUR COUNTRY.

I THINK THERE ARE LESSONS TO BE LEARNED IN THIS MOMENT COULD HELP US SHIFT PUBLIC POLICY LONGER MATERIAL.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TALKING WITH US.

MY PLEASURE.