Coronavirus Forces White Americans to Get a Taste of the Black Experience
Unemployment, poor health care, and physical restrictions are hurdles we’ve had to overcome for centuries
I lost my job this morning.
I’ve been laid off before in the past. But this was a good job with plenty of well-to-do white folks attached to it that invested a lot of money into what we were all working on. I figured that made it secure.
I was wrong.
The recent “stay at home” policy enacted for the entire state of California in response to the coronavirus threat requires all people to avoid going outside for nonessential work. Failure to adhere to this policy without just cause results in a fine and a possible misdemeanor. Unfortunately, my place of business did not fall into the category of being essential.
I’ve entered a familiar dissociative shock. I remember the times I went hungry as a child when my mom couldn’t pay the bills. And the fog that always descended upon my childhood psyche around the first of the month. Even at 10 years old, I knew when rent was due.
As soon as I got home today, I filed for unemployment online. Then I stood in line for 45 minutes outside a grocery store to get food. I called my family…
