There’s no doubt the ongoing COVID 19 crisis unmasked deep-rooted racial inequities in our health care system. African-Americans are dying of the virus at startling rates compared to whites. The prevalence of diabetes, heart disease, and other underlying conditions mean Black people are especially vulnerable. Worse, studies show we are less likely to get tested when we ask for them, less likely to be listened to when we share our symptoms, and more likely to be simply dismissed by biased providers. COVID also exposed crippling economic disparities. We are the “essential” workers – filling low-pay, high-risk jobs, and unable to “stay home.”

We’ve been disproportionately affected by massive job losses related to COVID; our small businesses passed over for assistance and more likely never to reopen. The toll on our physical and mental health are profound and likely just beginning. An esteemed panel will cover how COVID has affected us mentally and physically as well as entrepreneurs, small businesses, and the economy – the structural racism and explicit bias make “Surviving COVID While Black” a matter of life and death for communities of color.