The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Heavy Price for Black Children
by Anthony Payne
The Covid-19 pandemic has upended the foundation in which kids across the United States attend school. Since March 2020, schools have had to scramble to adjust to a new way of educating students remotely. And often without the appropriate technology and supervision, Black children remain at risk. If not acknowledged and course-corrected, this may become a precursor to the school-to-prison pipeline which affects Freedmen children at a disproportionate rate.
Most of the challenges our children face stem from economic instability and disadvantage. Hunger and improper diet are large problems in the United States. In certain instances, Black kids may get 2 meals while attending school (breakfast and lunch). Due to the quarantine and “stay at home” orders, students (especially Black students) are experiencing hunger and nutrition issues at a high rate. This, in turn, has a negative effect on their physical and emotional wellbeing. Without healthy nutrition, Black children will not get the needed vitamins and minerals that their bodies and brains need to flourish. School meals provide this sustenance daily for many students.
Another disadvantage related to economics is that many Blacks are behind the digital divide. High speed Internet, laptop or desktop computers, and other necessities are essential to an effective education, and in particular, remote instruction. In some instances, Black parents have had to attempt to log on to virtual learning platforms using their cellphones to assist in connecting remotely. This is extremely difficult and costly for families. Without the proper materials and technologies, Black children will continue to be behind those who have ready access to these resources. Statistics show that if children (especially boys) are not able to read by the third grade, they are twice as likely to end up in jail and/or prison. It is imperative that Black parents find alternative means to access virtual learning and provide the proper supervision to ensure the work is satisfactorily completed.
In addition, Black parents who are fortunate enough to still be employed as front line and essential workers have a unique burden. They must continue to work, but may have to leave their children unsupervised due to the high cost of daycare, especially with children younger than school age. Many Black parents rely on before and after school programs to assist with this issue. Along with that, parents are taking the place of the teacher by having to essentially homeschool their children. Although there are remote classes, parents have to instruct and motivate their children to learn and keep up with the curriculum. Without in-person schooling, Black parents are in a precarious position to say the least.
In conclusion, the Covid-19 pandemic is setting Black children on a trajectory where they will continue to fall behind their white and richer counterparts. Children across America are facing a multitude of issues ranging from social isolation, depression, and decreases in learning and accountability. This hits the Freedmen communities the hardest. Once this pandemic is over and we adjust to a “new normal”, most children will have yet another uphill battle to remain on par with other groups of children who do not have to face the challenges outlined above. In 2021, economic disadvantage should not be the reason why a child does not receive proper nutrition or education in one of the richest countries in the world. Hopefully and prayerfully, the results of the pandemic will not lead to an increase in the school-to-prison pipeline. The Black community can ill afford a further widening of the racial wealth gap and hundreds of years of setbacks on the road to economic autonomy and recovery. A multi-generational federal reparations program is the only way to ensure that Freedmen can survive the pandemic and all its challenges, and see our children thrive for decades to come.
