Ray co-authors editorial on racial equity

In an op-ed for The Guardian Faculty Associate Rashawn Ray and colleague Keon L. Gilbert make the case that a form of "vaccine gerrymandering" unearths a collective memory of how the resources in their communities are often co-opted for white and corporate gain.

"As the US faces its worst public health crisis in over a century, the question of race, socioeconomic status, and place sits squarely in the middle of the conversation. The US is less than 60 days into the rollout of an international vaccination program, where 43% of Black and 37% of Hispanic people are willing to “wait and see how [the] vaccine is working” compared to only 26% of whites. In a recent survey, 48% of Black adults and 36% of Hispanic adults report having less confidence the vaccine will take their needs into consideration. These feelings reflect current and historic experiences of racial animus from government agencies and healthcare systems. We assert that without a focus on racial equity vaccine allocation will further divide the country and perpetuate health inequalities," they write.

See the complete story in The Guardian

"A colorblind vaccine approach isn’t good enough. The US needs racial equity", The Guardian, Rashawn Ray, February 9, 2021