Chapter 1: The Pandemic's Disproportionate Impact

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the urgent need for the health community to recognize African Americans not just as victims but as vital contributors and leaders in the fight against the virus.

By Adrianne Gladden-Young

Among the 110,000 Americans who succumbed to complications from COVID-19, nearly a quarter were Black individuals—church leaders, mourners, healthcare professionals, and everyday citizens alike. As a scientist who has spent the last several weeks researching this respiratory virus, I cannot help but reflect on the deeper inequities that have allowed the pandemic to ravage communities that resemble my own. The phrase “I can’t breathe,” uttered by George Floyd as he faced police brutality, has become a rallying cry against systemic racism, yet it also encapsulates the struggles against the disparities that have led to a disproportionate loss of Black lives during this crisis.

Black Americans face significant vulnerability to COVID-19, consistently experiencing death rates nearly double that of other demographics since data tracking began. Simultaneously, we find ourselves unjustly vilified, facing scrutiny for actions as trivial as wearing or not wearing masks. While masks are offered graciously to white individuals, the same courtesy is often withheld from Black Americans.

As a Black woman, I navigate two layers of vulnerability: the threat of COVID-19 and the systemic racism that has long plagued my community. The coronavirus is exploiting America's racial divides, and the scientific and public health sectors must acknowledge and address these disparities to build trust within Black communities and empower Black scientists in this battle.

I lead a research lab focused on infectious diseases, where we analyze viral genomes from patient samples collected during outbreaks like Lassa fever, Ebola, Zika, and hepatitis A. We began examining the novel coronavirus in January, upon learning of its outbreak in Wuhan, China. Recently, my efforts have concentrated on tracing the virus's introduction and spread in the Boston area, where we suspect it emerged at least 30 times. Our overarching goal is to comprehend both the pathogens' genomes and the social and cultural elements that influence their transmission.

As I reflect on the pandemic's impact on my community, the social determinants of health become glaringly apparent. While research attributes the heightened infection and mortality rates among Black populations to underlying health conditions and socioeconomic factors, there lies an unspoken implication: that Black individuals bear some responsibility for these outcomes, lacking the same compassion afforded to white victims.

Our heightened vulnerability does not attract additional resources or attention; historically, it has served as justification for neglect. The historian Vanessa Northington Gamble highlights how, during the 1918 influenza pandemic, many health officials provided care to Black communities only out of fear that they posed a public health risk to white neighborhoods.

Even a century later, our needs remain marginalized. Early triage plans for expected patient surges included proposals to deny lifesaving treatments to individuals with underlying health issues, which disproportionately affect Black individuals. Experts specializing in health disparities have felt compelled to argue that safeguarding the health of Black patients ultimately benefits “all Americans,” framing our existence as liabilities to be managed rather than lives to be valued.

Research efforts aimed at aiding Black communities often fall short, with Black individuals still vastly underrepresented in medical and scientific data. Less than 10% of doctorate-level scientists are Black, and major funding organizations like the National Institutes of Health support only 10% of proposals from Black researchers compared to 16% for white researchers. Moreover, studies focusing on community health, which tend to involve Black populations, receive less funding than those centered on molecular science.

Compounding these issues, the scientific and medical fields have lost the trust of Black communities due to a legacy of exploitation, abuse, and neglect, from the Tuskegee syphilis study to the unauthorized use of Henrietta Lacks’s cells in research. Understandably, many Black Americans are hesitant to participate in studies that may further marginalize them or link them to criminality.

The pandemic has further exposed the health needs of African Americans. In recent testimonies before the House Ways and Means Committee, James Hildreth, president of Meharry Medical College, recounted an initiative where the Tennessee National Guard attempted to provide free COVID-19 testing in public housing. Many residents, fearing the National Guard, remained in their homes, leaving testing sites empty even as COVID-19 cases went undiagnosed.

While the pandemic will eventually subside, the embedded racism within American institutions will linger. Public health and scientific authorities are not immune to this endemic issue. Increasing access to testing and healthcare is essential, but these measures alone will not resolve the systemic inequalities that have historically oppressed Black communities.

What we require is for leaders in public health, research, and medicine to partner with us—not merely treating us as victims but recognizing us as leaders and innovators. Collaboration with historically Black health and scientific institutions is vital. As Hildreth articulated, “Let us take our place in this fight.”

Scientists aiming to engage with our communities must forge genuine partnerships, not merely seek data to further their own careers. Every stakeholder in the public health and scientific domains should strive to understand the histories of marginalized communities to avoid repeating past mistakes.

Treating everyone with dignity and amplifying Black voices can lead to significant change. Long-term efforts must focus on closing the funding gap in research, increasing Black representation in STEM fields, and supporting Black healthcare professionals and students in scientific disciplines.

The urgency of this agenda has intensified during the pandemic. The emergence of a lethal respiratory virus underscores the value of our ability to breathe freely. George Floyd's words resonate with the systemic injustices and violent racism that have plagued us for years: We can’t breathe. It is crucial for America’s public health and research communities to mobilize not only for our sake but with us—to acknowledge our humanity and work together toward a more equitable future.

Chapter 2: Bridging the Gap in Health Disparities

The video "Give Black Scientists a Place in This Fight: COVID-19 & the Racial Divide" discusses the vital role of Black scientists in addressing health disparities and advocating for their communities during the pandemic.

The video "Black Scientists: Past, Present and Future" explores the historical contributions of Black scientists and emphasizes the need for their representation in contemporary research.