By: Brett C.S. Roberts
Reel Urban News COVID-19 Series
There’s two old sayings that come to mind right now, “you can’t tell who’s swimming naked until the tide comes in” and ‘the emperor (the current occupant of the white house) has no clothes”…
The coronavirus pandemic has exposed on a national level the underlying disparities between the African American communities and other communities. What Surgeon General Adams failed to note in his speech about how the respiratory disease is ravaging our communities is that much of the damage beyond underlying conditions is due to systemic medical discrimination, living in dense urban communities and the fact that many of us serve as front line employees. Many of us have to go into work at retail locations, transit drivers, etc. Aside from the health impact, the financial impact is another whammy! According to statistics, many, if not most, African Americans, don’t have jobs that allow them to work from home. Also, many African American millennials, like many of their counterparts, have student loan debt and with the instability of the economy the light at the end of the student debt tunnel is dimming even more.
So, what can we learn from this pandemic? Well we need to take care of ourselves and our families. By that it means trying our best to save for a rainy-day fund. There’ll likely be another episode that will temporarily derail the economy and who knows how that will impact you. Saving as much as possible will relieve the stress of having a financial burden during an already stressful period. No one wants to get caught naked when the tide comes in. Even if one thinks their job is secure, it ain’t! Find ways to cut costs and save more money. Make sure that you have a life insurance policy and a plan well. This is also the time to ensure you have emergency supplies on deck. Who knows what the next emergency will look like or what it’ll be? Preparation is key since unfortunately the social umbrella had holes in it.
Another thing African American millennials can do is ensure we’re taking care of our mental health. This entire ordeal is stressful and it’s perfectly normal to be sad. If you survive this period with your sanity and physical health that’s a win! Nothing wrong with watching the news, but don’t let what you can’t control, control you. Take walks, meditate, breathe and stretch. Maintain a routine. Like some of you out there, I normally travel a lot and right now things have changed a bit. Instead of jumping at the next trip, I’m planning for later this year, going back through my photos and making sure that my next trip, whenever that may be, is truly a special one. Nothing wrong with doing some advanced planning and dreaming a bit. As the saying goes, “this too shall pass”. I’ll also add that this is a good time to explore within reason, and abiding by social distancing and essential travel rules, one’s own region. I’ll admit I’ve taken the long route to the grocery store or driven by the beach etc. to take a look at it and appreciate the beauty around me.
Let’s not beat ourselves up for institutional problems that disproportionately affect us. Instead let’s rally our elected leaders, and other leaders, to ensure that our communities are being served adequately. Let’s also use this as a time to call out the those running for office to address the inequities as well with a concrete plan. Elections matter! The current occupant of the White House, and his response to this crisis, is awful by many measures. If you’re tired of him, and his policies, let it be known in November.
These times are stressful no doubt and we have to be patient with each other. We’ll get through this. Wear a mask when going out, wash your hands and use common sense. There may be some political leaders and others who want to prematurely open things up. However, if trained medical professionals are saying otherwise, listen to them please. Stay safe and stay home.
