We are preparing a workshop series called “Racism in the time of Covid-19,” which explores the underlying causes of racism and inequality within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the economic crises the pandemic has created, our educational work is also under threat. We rely on your support and contributions to continue to provide educational services that foster critical thinking among society. We hope to raise at least $20,000 to develop and launch Racism in the time of Covid-19 workshops. This service will reach 50,000 people among students, activist, society leaders, and indigenous communities in Ecuador and the Region.
Today, more than ever, we rely on your support and contributions to help us continue to provide the public with educational programs that foster critical thinking. We hope to raise at least $20,000, which will support our operations throughout this year, as well as help us to develop and launch the Racism in the time of Covid-19 workshops. The workshops will reach 50,000 people over six months and be available in varied online formats including interactive sessions, seminars, and virtual tours that reflect on race, injustice, and the pandemic.
According to the World Health Organization, the Americas is the new epicenter of the pandemic with over 351,000 deaths, the highest worldwide. Ecuador has registered 5,847 deaths according to the Public Health Ministry by August 2020, however those number might increase to 9,259 if we add suspected Covid-19 deaths. Since the virus hit for the first time, we have seen that the most affected populations are people of color and low-income communities.
These are family, friends, and colleagues who do not have the privilege of staying home, or those who cannot fully observe preventive measures. This population is composed of essential workers, bus drivers, informal vendors of groceries, and those who need to use public transportation, among many others. Sadly, low income backgrounds are common among people of color, making them even more vulnerable. Making matters more complicated, extractive activities in the Amazon region have not stopped during the quarantine, increasing the risk of contagion among indigenous populations where state-led health services are ineffective or inexistent. For more information on racism, the pandemic, and extractive activities click here.
Racism in the time of Covid-19 2020 By María Belén Noroña, Ph.D By mid-March of this year at the onset of the pandemic, it was common to hear health experts and media commentators discuss how the novel COVID-19 virus could affect anyone regardless of skin color and socioeconomic status. Many called the virus the great …
