Can a Virus Be Racist? What Disparities COVID is Revealing - Ep. 12

We know people can be racist — and that reality is far too clear after witnessing the news on Ahmaud Arbery's death. But can a virus be racist, too? In the latest episode, Jes & Rob dialogue about the lopsided effects of COVID-19.

Episode Summary:

  • 0:00 - Intro

  • 0:50 - Episode start

  • 1:50 - Rob checks in with Jes

  • 4:11 - Jes checks in with Rob

  • 6:06 - Jes shifts us into the episode topic

  • 6:43 - Data about Covid disproportionately affected the Black community

  • 8:55 - Rob brings in two articles

  • 11:50 - NC is one of four states called out in Brookings

  • 13:38 - Talk about inequality through three areas: jobs, healthcare, and criminal justice

  • 13:54 - Inequality in jobs

  • 14:28 - Jes weighs in on job inequality

  • 14:45 - Jes tells story about Tyson plant

  • 16:22 - It is a race issue

  • 17:30 - Is the virus racist? No. The system is

  • 18:18 - Jes wraps up the jobs section

  • 18:45 - Inequality in healthcare

  • 19:26 - Jes quotes some statistics on healthcare inequality

  • 20:13 - Jes talks about White House call with community leaders

  • 22:31 - Jes asks Rob for his thoughts on her call

  • 22:49 - No one is a blank slate coming to this conversation

  • 24:35 - Rob asks Jes what she processes hearing these statistics

  • 28:30 - Jes reads another healthcare statistic

  • 29:50 - Rob talks about leaning in and getting proximate

  • 30:22 - Men of color at risk for wearing facemasks to get groceries

  • 31:41 - You don’t see the same protests in other countries

  • 33:41 - Bryan Stevenson quote: you have to get proximate to suffering

  • 35:30 - Jes - there isn’t a “todo” list, we need to be better and keep learning

  • 36:35 - Would you trade places with a Black essential worker?

  • 37:20 - Being able to have these conversations is the action item

  • 42:12 - JUST podcast is on social media now (@thepodcastjust)

  • 42:44 - Show up for local organizations that are run by people of color and helping people of color

  • 43:42 - Use this podcast to venture into some deeper waters of conversation

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