John --

Growing up, my mom and pop always tried their best to take care of me and my siblings. While check-up visits to the doctor may not have been frequent, we made it to the doctor when it was needed.

While my schools didn't have the newest books or resources, I spent my afternoons in the library and even took summer school classes to get the education I needed. When we needed food, my parents saved what they could to make sure we were fed.

Growing up in North Philly and West Oak Lane, I saw that my community was often the last to get proper resources -- much like many BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) communities around the country -- which created a fragile foundation of structural inequalities that still exist today. And right now, COVID-19 is exacerbating these issues at disproportionate rates than we've ever seen before:

• African Americans have been dying at about 2.4 times the rate of white Americans due to underlying health issues;
• African Americans are more likely than white people to live in food deserts, with limited access to fresh fruit or vegetables -- making quarantine even harder;
• African American children are already falling behind in adaptive learning environments because of disparities in home life, like limited or no internet access and closed libraries; and
• We are less likely to be able to access green spaces, and more likely to live in areas without clean water or air, contributing to underlying health issues.

The list goes on. All of these factors shape health and all are shaped by structural racism that has existed for decades. (COVID-19 is just the latest manifestation of an old and unsightly trend.) I've called for targeted coronavirus testing efforts in BIPOC communities, and it's past time to address racial inequalities in the COVID-19 response. If you're with me, add your name NOW.

African Americans persevered through many barriers, but right now we are facing two pandemics: the fight against COVID-19 and the fight against racial inequalities -- and it's past time for the systems to change.

While we may not see as much news on COVID-19, we're still feeling the impact of this virus -- and no amount of ignoring the problem is going to make it go away or help us out. I refuse to go back to "normal" -- the only direction to go in is forward. I will never stop calling for affordable health care, quality education, access to clean air, water, and fresh foods for communities across the country -- and I hope you won't either.

As we continue on in this new environment for change and equal justice, I hope you'll stand with me for a better future ahead. If you're with me, add your name next to mine.

Thanks,

Dwight

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