My concerns at the beginning of 2020 morphed into fear of two pandemics: Covid-19 and racism
Photo by Ann Smith
What was supposed to be a splendid year became that of tragedy and stress.
A deadly and highly contagious virus put the entire globe on lockdown. This caused us to stay confined to our homes for almost six months. Going to the grocery store, gas stations, and even going to the park requires people to wear a mask. We witnessed the global death toll rise as a result.
Also, new cases of police brutality among Black people emerged. Footage of George Floyd being murdered by four police officers went viral, and shortly after that, a man was shot in a Wendy's drive-thru. Jacob Blake was shot seven times by police and barely survived.
This is not the first outbreak we have endured, and these new cases of police brutality are not isolated incidents.
Nothing ever seems to be new when closely considered. I remind my brother to wash his hands and wear a mask for protection even though I worry about how someone will profile him while he wears it.
My concerns at the beginning of the year are trivial compared to my current ones, morphing into a tale of two pandemics: Covid-19 and racism.