Quarantine Reflection: Disposable Workers doing Essential Work

While yes we can do more, I don't like all the blaming the community happening right now... 

AFP Via GettyImages (linked article)

I am not the only one thinking this, the article (where I got my image) lays out some of the national items. What we are seeing now and local news is reporting here in South Bend is a high percentage of local cases are of Latino community members. Locally about 30% of the cases are Latino and the population is about 15% Latino, so that is very disproportionate. Stories here: SB Tribune , WSBT 

While I agree we could use more Spanish language materials promoting the safety guidelines, where I disagree is them missing the main parts of my interviews about the our community is more exposed which of course causes more cases. 

Here is my rant.... the main reason our cases are high, is that we have to work. Low income families, especially minority ones, and compounded in undocumented families, have to work... many aren't getting stimulus checks, many don't qualify for unemployment, and many can't just work from home. 

Many of the jobs held by our community members are made to work because the work place is deemed essential. The problem is, essential workers, in essential work places, are often being treated as disposable. Our familia working in factories, grocery stores, food production, etc. are being put at risk daily and not being protected like they should. The government closed down non-essential businesses, which technically protects those workers more than "essential workers". 

Right now essential workers, are put on the front line, and put at most risk. While non-essential workers, had their work place closed and they were sent home and kept safe. 

This disparity will certainly be thoroughly researched in the future. Certain work fields will have high infection rates; grocery store workers, factory line workers, food production employees, etc. will have high rates. Certain work fields that could easily work from home or in quarantine like CPA's, Bankers, Lawyers, Administrators, consultants, technology positions, etc. will have low rates. Make a list of stereotypical Latino jobs, are those workers able to work and stay safe? By in large... no. 

So please remember...  it is not just health care workers risking their lives to support us during this crisis. So where those people that got sick at the meat packing plant, a local factory or just the night stocking crew at your local grocery store that kept your family fed but probably didn't have good health benefits, banked PTO, or any safety net in case they got sick. They couldn't afford to not work. 

There will be a lot of heroes in this, and as usual a lot of villains. Keep your eye out for those wanting credit (probably a villain) and keep and eye out for that Latina mom, that showed up daily to work, who had to bring her own PPE, who had no other option to continue bringing a check to pay the rent and take care of her family. She needs your help, but she will never ask for it... she is essential to her family, to her community, and to this country.