In an effort to spread awareness about COVID-19, Revolt TV is presenting a two-hour-long town hall titled State of Emergency: The State of Black America & Coronavirus.
The online event, hosted by Sean "Diddy" Combs, will focus on the pandemic's impact on black communities and how the crisis has further highlighted the racial inequality and health disparities in America. In the month since COVID-19 was declared a national emergency, a number of municipalities have shared data that suggests the disease is infecting and killing African Americans at disproportionately high rates. In Michigan, African Americans make up only 15 percent of the state's population, but account for about a third of confirmed coronavirus cases and around 40 percent of virus-related deaths. The numbers are much more stark in Louisiana, where blacks make up a third of the demographic, but account for 70 percent of the state's COVID-19 deaths.
"You look at what's happening in terms of documenting longstanding health disparities (among African Americans) ... asthma, 20 percent more likely to have it; high blood pressure, 40 percent more likely to have it; lupus, black women are three times more likely that white women to have it," Sen. Kamala Harris said at the beginning of the town hall. "And this disease, this coronavirus, attacks people who otherwise have health conditions. So, we've got a lot at stake."
Harris went on to say black people are far less likely to have the option of working remotely, which means they're either risking their health due to a lack of paid sick leave or they're giving up their income in order to stay home.
"There's a lot to address, a lot to talk about, a lot to fight for ..." Harris continued. "We're gonna get through this, because we're all in this together. And, again, thank you to all the leaders for being a part tonight."
You can stream the town hall now via YouTube above. Tonight's broadcast will feature appearances by Meek Mill, the Rev. Al Sharpton, Big Sean, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Killer Mike, New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell, Van Jones, and more.
