One Reason Why Coronavirus Hits Black People the Hardest

Provided by: Vox |Published on: April 27, 2021

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Synopsis

This video from Vox shows the connections between air pollution, race and place in America, and disparities in COVID-19 deaths, using Cancer Valley along the Mississippi River in Louisiana as an example.
Students will learn about the historic and present-day decisions that have led to Black people being disproportionately affected by COVID-19.

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Subjects: History, Health

Authors: Vox

Region: North America, USA - South, United States, Louisiana

Languages: English

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Teaching Materials

Positives

This video gives a straightforward connection between systemic racism, air pollution, public health, and COVID-19 health outcomes.
Engaging graphics, maps, and photographs will keep students interested in the video.
The video features Dr. Robert Bullard, known as the "Father of Environmental Justice."

Prerequisites

Particulate matter (PM2.5) refers to tiny particles or droplets in the air that are two and one-half microns or less in width.
Teachers may want to remind students that one micron equals one micrometer and one micrometer equals one-millionth of a meter.

Differentiation & Implementation

Social studies or history classes can use this video to show how events from history continue to impact people who are living today. Students can make a chronological list of all of the events in the video that led Black people in St. John the Baptist Parish to suffer disproportionately high mortality rates from COVID-19.
Biology classes can discuss why air pollutants are so dangerous for human health.
Other resources on this topic include this SubjectToClimate lesson on Cancer Alley and this video on the link between environmental pollution and human health.

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One Reason Why Coronavirus Hits Black People the Hardest

Synopsis

Teaching Materials

Scientist Reviewed

Related Teaching Resources