COVID-19 and The Political Economy of Racism: Why a Social Justice Perspective Matters

This book contextualizes the COVID-19 pandemic from a social justice lens. A social justice lens carries an obligation to humanity and human rights protections. A redistribution of resources and opportunities is needed to provide the most vulnerable members in a society, the opportunity to live a healthy life that includes social, mental and physical well-being. In this COVID-19 pandemic, which is mounted with economic destruction and tragic losses in our elderly populations, racial and ethnic groups, people who live in poverty and persons in detention centers, a social justice logic should be at the forefront of all decision-making and all political communications. Using theories of the political economy of racism, the intentional and historical mistreatment of Blacks in America is discussed extensively. In addition, this book does not ignore the exploitation of Black and Brown populations in the criminal justice system or the enduring political, economic and social inequities that foster health disparities in chronic and infectious diseases...and now, added disparities in cases and deaths from COVID-19. With capitalism at the heart of it all, this is unconscionable and disheartening as this happens in parallel with our current public health crisis. Read more