Past President’s Corner
For weeks, addressing issues concerning the COVID-19 pandemic and the Black community has been at the forefront for the authors. It has been noted that the ABPsi South Florida chapter has held virtual meetings where public participation is not only welcomed but pursued. Now, once again, with the senseless killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota by police officers, the topic of police brutality levied against the Black community and the broader topic of race and social injustice are moved to the foreground. These topics are inextricably linked. They have similar underlying root causes; stabilizing elements; perpetuating circumstances; and finally, solutions. The writers will look at both of these issues and make our position abundantly clear while we also look to our national organization for direction. As residents of this area, the authors, both past chapter presidents, are familiar with many issues that impact the tri-county and surrounding areas.
COVID-19 pandemic
Since March 2020, the number of African Americans who have contracted and died due to the COVID-19 virus is 2x higher than expected in many cases (state COVID-19 dashboards). Many know someone who died from the virus or contracted it. A large section of African Americans live in nursing homes that lack adequate resources and protections for them and the health care workers that serve them. For many, public transportation is critical to survive. Finally, a multitude do not have the luxury of working from home on a personal or employer-provided device. African Americans constitute a significant percentage of essential workers including those working in service jobs like food delivery, supermarket retail, and are frontline attendants at hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes. The number of cases and deaths due to COVID-19 in Brazil, the nation with the largest Black population outside of Africa, has increased substantially as well.
Infectious Disease specialist, Muge Cevik, explained that grocery shoppers have a .02% chance of contracting the virus while grocery store employees have a 9% likelihood. That percentage increases to 12% for family members of a loved one who is positive for the virus. (NPR-All things Considered May 19, 2020). Black Americans and Latinos are even more at risk due to extended and close family networks that define their culture, meaning, and spiritual nature.
The approach of the current US administration to the crisis has been one without acknowledgement of or strategies to address the abovementioned health disparities. Some have cited reasons for these disparities that are based in racist tropes of the Black community. Such reasoning ignores the reality of limited access to and availability of culturally-responsive healthcare many face in the African American community.
The answers and solutions to this issue need to focus on short- and long-term solutions. These solutions should focus on the individual, family, community, legal, health, economic, educational, and other social-political systemic changes that perpetuate these disparities.
The impact of stress on the body is underscored in this research. A study using a sample of 443 African American children from rural Georgia, using a longitudinal method was titled, “Cultural Socioeconomic Status Risk, Allostatic Load and Adjustment; A Prospective Latent Profile Analysis with Contextual and Genetic Protective Factors.” The researchers found that the largest percentage of individuals in the study (30.9%) could be categorized within the physical health vulnerability group. This group, “…displayed high levels of cumulative SES risk (Socio-economic Status), low levels of adjustment problems, and high AL (Allostatic Load).” This section, according to the measures, had low levels of behavioral or emotional adjustment challenges, however, their stress levels were high as seen in the elevated level of Allostatic load. Allostatic load was determined through measures of resting blood pressure; an analysis of urinary catecholamines and cortisol; and fat deposits. The authors stated that this classification supported their hypothesis that a pattern would emerge that resembled that found in the adult health disparities literature. (Brody, Yu, Chen, Kogan, Beach, Simons, Gibbons, Evans, Windle, Gerrard, and Philibert in Developmental Psychology, Vol 49 (5); May, 2013, 913-927). The harmful impacts of stress in individuals can occur at the same time they appear to be functioning well in terms of the emotions and behaviors. Individuals must find their peaceful moments more often so that they can minimize stress. This means relying upon support systems, even if at a distance.
Community approaches outlined by Bronfenbrenner’s 1979 Social-Ecological model and practices used by Dr. Cheryl Grills in her ACRE model to help women return to their communities from correctional institutions in a successful manner are examples of a community-based approaches aimed at making a systemic change. These structural changes need to be made within the community and should also take aim at other issues such as criminal justice, education, and economic disparities over the long run which also directly impact health disparities. Issues such as voting rights for individuals who have served sentences for felonies and quality of reading instruction for schools are among some of the larger issues that need to be given one-, five-, and even ten-year benchmarks to assess improvement.
In the short term, reaching out to family members and community organizations to offer support while maintaining social distancing protocols as much as possible will enhance engagement with the Black community amidst the chaos. Those with the privilege of sheltering in place will benefit from keeping an organized structure and routine at home. Raising children when one has to work either from home or at another location is an extreme stressor as well. The school year brought its own challenges such as playing the role of teacher and parent; however, now the emphasis shifts to summer programs and occupying free time. Again, organizing time, using supports which minimize social contact when possible, and knowing that one is doing his/her/their best given the current circumstances is important.
On an individual level, it is important when facing a crisis to maintain a sense of hopefulness. In the face of overwhelming difficulty when fear and pain are dominant, you may find yourself falling into despair. It is critical to choose to be hopeful. This is the only way to continue moving forward, to continue the fight toward a desired outcome.
A feeling of hope is closely connected with faith. The essence of faith is believing in something that you cannot prove. Think about difficult situations that may have been experienced in the past; perhaps there was a situation in which you feared the worst was going to happen. What helped you get through the situation? What lessons did you learn that may have prepared you for the current time?
As an individual, it is also important to take care of one’s physical and emotional health. This includes getting enough rest, eating healthily, and getting adequate exercise. Crises such as the pandemic, financial problems, and racial injustice create intense feelings of stress that impact your body, your mind, and your emotions. It also helps to find supportive friends to share with, or to seek the help of a licensed mental health professional.
Killing of George Floyd
The murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota has intensified an already difficult period for the Black community. The authors send out their heartfelt condolences and complete support for the family of Mr. Floyd and the community of Minnesota. We are also keenly aware that his death is one that impacts the Black community and the nation at large. His death has followed the murder of many other Black men and women who were victimized under similar circumstances, like Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor. His death is our death. Their deaths are ours as well. How much longer will tides of systemic racism and oppression endemic to this country continue to result in the death of Black Americans, especially Black men? We concur with the recent statement from ABPsi on this issue. Empowering individuals to be proud of their true spirit and humanity and creating change in the multiple levels of systemic racism throughout the numerous institutions and systems that impact our communities is a mission that we wholeheartedly endorse. Recognizing similar causes of and solutions to both the COVD-19 crisis and the murder of George Floyd is crucial.
Finally, the issue of the protests in Minnesota and around the nation should be addressed. Some media, and to a greater extent, the office of the President, has been reprehensible in their coverage of these events. These events are covered with the expectation that something will ultimately go awry. Violence is emphasized more than the message. Moreover, the fact that the majority of people committing the offenses are NOT Black is generally withheld from the public. In addition, police provocation in those instances has not been sufficiently discussed. The authors support the mission of these protests to bring further attention to the value of Black lives. Colin Kaepernick was ignored and marginalized for his peaceful efforts within the racist institution of the NFL. We do not expect that this issue will be ignored now. We will not allow it. The memory of relatives who marched on Bloody Sunday and in the Selma to Montgomery March will not permit it.
As a community, we need each other in this time of crisis. In response to the incidents of racial injustice, it has been heartening to see the groundswell of support for Black lives in cities all over this country and in other cities in other parts of the world. This is a clear indication that our collective voices have a place in raising the alarm. However, as was recently cited in an article by President Obama, our collective responsibility goes beyond protesting. We must continue doing this work by investing in our mental health, educational opportunities, economic advancement, voting, dismantling systemic racism, and uplifting Black voices.
By Grace Sidberry, Ph.D. and Ischaji Robertson, Psy.D.