Certain groups of people are predisposed to having a severe infection. Children and the elderly come to mind, as both populations have immune systems that are not as developed. Those with preexisting conditions like asthma, diabetes, and hypertension are also at higher risk. Looking at the mortality data, there is evidence to suggest that minorities are disproportionately affected by severe COVID-19. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) readily addresses disparities in those affected by COVID-19, specifically when it comes to race and socioeconomic circumstances of patients. According to the CDC’s public report, “a total of 205 counties in 33 states were identified as hotspots. These counties have a combined total…
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Elijah McClain: “A beautiful soul”
On Aug 24th, 2019, Colorado police responded to a call from a resident living in the city of Aurora who spotted a “sketchy” man. The man in question was Elijah McClain, a 23 year old professional massage therapist and self taught violinist. McClain was on his way home from the convenience store after buying an iced tea while wearing a ski mask. What police didn’t know is that McClain suffered from anemia and wore the mask as a protective covering in order to keep his face from getting cold. Shortly after police arrived on the scene, they approached and accosted McClain before pinning him down on the ground for eighteen…
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Breonna Taylor: A Young Life Full of Potential Taken Too Soon
When George Floyd, 46, was murdered by four police officers in Minneapolis, MN, the effect caused a shockwave impact throughout the nation. As a result, the American public has begun calling out the state and national government, police, and elected officials to eradicate the common occurrences of racially based crimes within America’s justice systems. But before George Floyd’s life was unjustly taken, Breonna Taylor, 26, faced the same fate just two months previously. Just after midnight on March 13, 2020, Jonathan Mattingly, Brett Hankison, and Myles Cosgrove used a ram on the door of Breonna Taylor’s apartment to enter her home where she and her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, lay asleep.…
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Living in Color: ’People of Color’ a phrase divided
The minimization of the minority has been a common trait of our society for centuries and has evolved over time in many different ways. Yet no matter how drastic the change, the oppression faced by minorities has continued to constrain any progress that could come. With the rise of Black Lives Matter movement, many are questioning whether or not the phrase ‘people of color’, often abbreviated as POC, is appropriate in this day and age. Some contend that the phrase undermines the struggles that certain minority communities face, in contrast to others. From the beginning, people have been stripped of their rights and identities, seen only as the lesser kind…
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George Floyd: the Public Trial
New video footage in the George Floyd murder case involving four Minneapolis police officers on May 25th of this year has surfaced courtesy of the British news outlet, The Daily Mail, who has yet to comment on how they acquired the body cam videos. The murder of George Floyd was caught on camera by multiple bystanders who were present at the scene. When the footage went viral, many were outraged which caused an uproar across the nation and even in many other countries. This unfortunate event has resulted in a vast majority of the public participating in protests, petition signing, fundraising, and contacting their local and state representatives to show…
