THE CORONAVIRUS pandemic has thrown up two major questions linked to racial identity in societies with a diverse racial make-up such as the UK and North America. There is some preliminary data suggesting that black, Hispanic and South Asian groups are more likely to be infected by the virus and suffer greater negative medical outcomes following infection. Some commentators are also arguing that the socioeconomic consequences of the pandemic are also having a greater impact on these groups more, a kind of double whammy.
Although these issues appear very different on the surface, could the answer to both questions lie in structural racism? Although it is still far too early to come to any definitive conclusions about the accuracy of the data, speculation is rife about why certain groups are being affected disproportionately. In terms of race, what do we know about the virus and its medical and possible social impacts?
It’s the immune response, stupid!
An individual’s immune system plays the central role in whether you are infected by any virus and this coronavirus is no different. To be infected you must be exposed to an appropriate virus load sufficient to get past your physical barriers and mucus membranes which along with some of your white blood cells particularly neutrophils and macrophages form part of your innate immune system.
How your body responds to the viral invasion depends on whether you already have antibodies to the virus or a similar virus from previous exposure. The presence of the appropriate antibodies may slow down or even stop further infection, then over several days, your adaptive immune system including B and T cells will have kicked in to make specific antibodies against the virus.
Outside these standard responses, for some individuals, their immune system can be a major problem. In some, the immune system may simply go into overdrive in a bid to fight the infection and this could lead to serious morbidity and even death, even if the initial viral load was relatively low. One common form of overreaction to many coronaviruses is overproduction and release of pro-inflammatory cytokines in a “cytokine storm”. Normally these small proteins are produced by cells in the body as part of the normal response to infection but their overproduction in a storm can have harmful and even lethal effects.
“There is as much genetic variation within these groups as there is between the whole human population”
For others who are immunocompromised as a result of genetics, lifestyle, age, pre-existing medical conditions or from taking certain medications, their immune responses may be too weak to fight the virus, with similar morbidity or mortality outcomes.
Presently there is no evidence to show that genes which determine the socially constructed racial characteristics, widely used today to categorise race, are linked to how our immune system responds to viral infections.
Where do pre-existing conditions fit in?
There are clear intersections between what happens once you are infected by the virus, your socioeconomic status, racial groups and your medical outcome after infection. What is most worrying about the reporting in the media is the underlying message that there may be some genetic connection between being from black or Asian groups and susceptibility to the virus. Despite the fact that these are socially constructed groups and there is as much genetic variation within these groups as there is between the whole human population.
To drive home the point, in North America the main groups affected are African Americans and Hispanics, in the UK it is south Asians and people of black African origin who are thought to be disproportionately affected, we have also seen the impact of COVID-19 in China, Italy and Spain, these are very different groups using the classical definition of race.
In terms of pre-existing conditions, it is now widely stated on government websites and reported in the media that those with conditions such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease are more likely to suffer greater adverse effects and even death from the infection. The higher levels of these pre-existing conditions in black and Asian groups is now extensively being proposed as the reason that some preliminary data is suggesting that these groups are being affected disproportionately by the direct medical consequences of the virus.
What these stories do not emphasise, is that the response of an individual’s immune system and whether they have any susceptible pre-existing conditions are both determined by a combination of environment and genetic factors.
Another angle that is being actively pursued both by allies and those who want to weaponise race, is the link to vitamin D deficiency. People with higher level of melanin who do not get exposure to enough direct sunlight produce less vitamin D naturally, which is essential for many bodily functions including the immune system. However, in terms of a link to susceptibility to COVID-19, this has not been proven on a number of levels. But any link would fit conveniently into the narrative of blaming or attributing susceptibility to the virus to something inherent in the racialised groups. This angle appeals to the dog whistle racists and at the same time, it avoids questioning how our society is organised in any meaningful way.
What is being missed is that in any society which values its citizens equally, anyone with the possibility of having such a critical deficiency as vitamin D would have been identified through medical monitoring and given supplements as a matter of routine. The fact that this is not happening is another example of structural racism, a point some of those making this argument may have missed.
‘Race is the child of racism, not the father’
In the absence of any genetic link between racial groups and susceptibility to the virus, we are left with the more difficult to accept the reality that these groups are suffering more because of how our society is organised.
We live in a highly racialised world which means that we associate different abilities and qualities with certain physical characteristics, mainly skin colour (race). We also live in a democracy, so we have a collective responsibility and are all accountable for how members of our society are treated.
“It is far too easy to be seduced by the simplistic arguments that those racialised as black are affected because they are more likely to have underlying medical problems”
We are also a meritocracy, that means success or failure in our society should be solely dependent on an individual’s abilities and qualities. To balance the impact of the meritocracy we delegate many of our responsibilities to institutions (healthcare, justice, education, etc) which support, control and regulate our society to ensure there is fairness for all and to maintain social justice.
Despite the existence of the institutions our society has many inequalities directly linked to racialised hierarchies. During periods of stress such as with the COVID-19 pandemic, the inequalities which are usually ignored are brutally exposed and laid bare. Our instinctive response to the new reality is to persuade ourselves that the inequalities are themselves the result of a natural phenomenon and therefore outside the remit of our democracy and the control of our institutions. To reinforce these points, we search for or must conjure up inherent deficits in those suffering the inequality.
It is far too easy to be seduced by the simplistic arguments that those racialised as black, Hispanic or Asian are affected because they are more likely to have underlying medical problems linked to their genetic make-up. This is a perfect illustration of what Ta Nehisi Coates said about how society often uses race to abrogate its responsibility for racism.
“Racism—the need to ascribe bone-deep features to people and then humiliate, reduce, and destroy them—inevitably follows from this inalterable condition. In this way, racism is rendered as the innocent daughter of Mother Nature, and one is left to deplore the Middle Passage or Trail of Tears the way one deplores an earthquake, a tornado, or any other phenomenon that can be cast as beyond the handiwork of men. But race is the child of racism, not the father. And the process of naming ‘the people’ has never been a matter of genealogy and physiognomy so much as one of hierarchy.”
– Ta Nehisi Coates: Between the World and Me, 2015.
Racism stems from the belief that certain human phenotypic characteristics allows us to place people in distinct groups or race, that all members of a designated group will have similar abilities and qualities which makes them either superior or inferior to other groups.
Racism can be evidenced by inferior societal outcomes for those racialised as inferior. In the context of the current pandemic, one interpretation of Coates description of race as “the child of racism, not the father” is that when we see racism in action, everyone including many of the racialised groups instinctively blame those racialised characteristics.
Evidence of structural racism
This partly explains the need to find evidence to show the higher prevalence of diabetes, cardiovascular disease and even vitamin D deficiency in certain racialised groups and confirming they are uniquely susceptible. This is a common response to evidence of racism and is called the meritocracy defence; the idea that in a meritocracy only those with inherent weaknesses or disabilities could have poorer outcomes.
In this way the higher rates of morbidity and mortality from COVID-19 can be attributed to victims’ race rather than the failings of our democracy, institutions and meritocracy. But in a democracy evidence of a prevalence of certain diseases in certain racialised groups brought about by environmental conditions is clear and direct evidence of structural racism.
Conditions like type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease are rife in disadvantaged communities not because of inherent genetic predispositions but the result of structural racism.
The levels of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and even the condition of your immune system are directly connected to the food and exercise you have access to. These in turn are linked to your level of education, employment, housing, healthcare, economic and political power. These inequalities existed before COVID-19 and will remain long after it has gone and replaced by another pandemic.
If we accept and disseminate these unsubstantiated excuses without also shining a light on the impact of structural racism, now cruelly exposed by COVID-19, we too are accepting nothing can be done. When society eventually moves into the post pandemic world those racialised groups and their allies have to be ready to push back against narratives which blame them for the consequences of structural racism.
The answer to the question; if I am infected with COVID-19, is it because I am black? is always no, being black, Hispanic or Asian are socially constructed concepts and not based in any genetics or biology that could impact on how we are infected by viruses. Race was social construct to justify the racism brought about by colonialism, but today it is still just as important in our supposed post-colonial world.
Dr Winston Morgan is a reader in toxicology and clinical biochemistry at the University of East London. Dr Morgan is part of the group that set up the University’s Black Academy, which had its first meeting in November 2019. He splits his research between bioscience research and research into the outcomes for BAME students and staff in Higher Education.
Comments Form
35 Comments
All African-skin people need to know urgently if the Coronavirus is racist?
If color is anything to go by then why is Africa not so affected by corvid 19 virus as the rest of the world. It’s down to lifestyle. I am British of Africa decent and so that you know we tend to live with extended families irregardless of space.
Another thing to do with many casualties is because we tend to do handy jobs like drivers, carers, and so forth. Now when talking about social distancing we become victims even before we know it.
With that in mind, rule out racism as far as Corvid-19 is concerned. It’s lifestyle
I really dont understand why these people want to pin COVID-19 trying push it our way, on the black race. So question, the thousands of people who have died in Spain, Italy and even UK. Were they black no.
Another point i find very strange is that this virus has not affected the continent of Africa and this should be goid news and yet it is as if these people want wish it for Africa. Bill Gates wife had the nerve to go on CNN and said this id going to Africa next, she sees death. What the hell. Whatever death she is wishing for Africa will never come to pass it is reversed back to sender. These white folks need to be learning from the Africans. There are natural drinks people are making and drinking andvis curing any symptoms. People are dying needlessly when the doctors can easily get these natural ingredients and minister to patients. This is the sad part. Black people have higher immune system and these white people know it. So you want to tell me that, the 600 plus daily death are all blacks. No they are not. Majority are white. Why us this not being reported. At least in the uk. I am suspicious.
When this virus started spreading it was not the African decendents that were mostly. In fact it appeared we had the highest immune system. Africa is the less affected continent in the world very little have been infected and that was because those who lived in Europe travelled there and infected some.
Secondly i find it strange that the media in UK and US are not reporting the white people that have died but focusing on black and minority. In my view the % of whites who have died world wide is much higher. Black people have been less affected if you look at Africa. This virus was created in china has nothing to do with the African or Hispanic race. These people are trying to push this virus on this race. Even china had the cherk to be racist against black people in china. Trying to say it is being spread by them. When they tested them they were negative. Then the chinese doctor was seen taking a blood sample from a healthy African man. In mt view so he can use tge blood sample for a cure. The world knows that bkack people are stronger. White people are justbasvan healthy asvsome black people. It is crap that they are saying black people have more health issues. This is the time to really stand up against these racism. Remember words are powerful we should no longer agree the negativity that these people pronounce on the black race. They learnt civilisation from us.
I still don’t understand how race is brought about one question i find strange is how come the Chinese doctors skin changed? What study has answered that issue?! I am getting tired of we black people being used as scapegoats where least expected , however does it imply each arrival in hospital is registered by colour ? What percentage of deaths was registered in china being black one thing i know is pardon my religious optimism in the Old Testament God Blessed Moses in Egypt right where is Egypt relocated? How many deaths has Africa recorded?
They should stop these nonsensical arguments they trying to project to Africans and Asians the fact is there is no race involved, if you are exposed you get infected it does not matter being black, red, yellow, green, white or rose
Hispanic it is not a race! It is an utter mistake .
These people called HISPANICS are the result of an inherited language. The real name for them is native american Indian I can see this because every time they mention hispanic/Latino it is refering to the native american people from Mexico, and neighbouring countries Also it is very important to mention that in the USA the HISPANICS are formed by different races e.g. blacks, native indian, whites and asians. I hope this clarifies the label of what is an hispanic
Greetings. I am a black African in London. I have just recovered from covid19. My experience was a reverse version. I had all the symptoms but placed it as a very severe flu. I had high fever, dry cough that felt like dust in my throat. My body and joints ached. Chest pain in the right side of front and back. Rapid heartbeat and shortness of breathe. I also experienced blackouts and confusion.
When it started, I took paracetamol but the temperature never went down. After two weeks I decided to try flu treatments. I took a sachet of coop flu medicine and few hours later the temperature went right down. I felt happy. The cough died down, I used rub for the pain in my body. Orange juice and lots of water. The only side effect I am experiencing are fatigue and my breathing is a bit funny. It sounds like I am puffing…despite being awake.
I also have vitamin d deficiency problems. Thank you.
The virus cannot see race only racism
Structural racism is at the core of the increased infections amongst BAME citizens. However, simply recognising it is not enough, BAME families need to put out the firm message to their loved ones that they should not be taking the brunt of these infernal risks. Don’t expect the government or anyone else to do it for you.
So when the boss tells you to go and do such and such a task because they are currently bogged down with a ton of paperwork and that your a treasure – don’t give them a big smile and trapes out as if your invicible. Stand your ground, ignore their racist disciplinary codes and policies, insist on ethnically fairer rotas, full PPE and workplace protection – keep yourself safe!.
Well said. Black people need to put their own health and safety first. The consequences of not doing so are dire.
Indeed!!!
Very insightful. This article highlights different angles I and I think many others have not considered. Thank you for this contribution.
Thank you for the article but I contend that some areas need comment.
1. The ONS study published on 7May attributes 50% of causation of BAME increased deaths to socio economic factors identified through small area census data and the home addresses of victims. That leads to 50% unexplained across all racial groups.
2. The virus is novel with only 4 months of research so it is unhelpful to postulate conclusions at this stage.
3. DNA factors nay not be excluded. Comparative genetic analysis of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV/SARS-CoV-2) receptor ACE2 in different populations Google this.
4. Structural racism is to be looked at after the direct health of patients have been analyses including the stage if admission, treatment given, blood profiles including blood group, vit d level, , ACE2 levels and blood sugar. and BMI and clinical reason for death including multiple organ failure through cytokine storm and sepsis
5 Your analysis excludes ARDS, pneumonia and low oxygen in reasons for death.
We urgently need to identify the factors that increase black and asian susceptibility to Covid 19 as this may lead to elimination of the virus. We also need to up the conversation with us as to what we wish to do about our risk. Lock down?? Reassignment?? Differential treatment?? As with the elderly we need to be party to the risk assessment and how we live our lives.
Thank you for your excellent analysis. For once we have the views of scientists as oppose to social scientist, offering theories based on unqualified assumptions.
We need voice in the mainstream media and social media that is raising our concerns.
We need our own organisation specifically to contribute daily to the discourse on this subject.
The variation drops to 1.9 when not taking into account underlying health issues.
It was done on a sample on approximately 16 thousand people. Where was the hospital the information was gathered from.
Number of deaths an infection are still significantly lower in Africa and the Caribbean
This is not being reported in France or Italy
These stats are dangerous and unessesary and probably distorted
Well articulated Dr Morgan , thank you. We need to understand what a racist regime tries to do to us .
Well you could say the same thing about what I have HLA-B27 positive that is mainly in white people and causes arthritis, so would be racist towards white people,so is that because Im white, just stop with all this racism and listen to what I’ve been trying to tell scientist’s at university’s working on a cure, newspapers, Covid-19 government team and TV news companies that have all ignored me so here goes.
HLA-B27 positive has a double edge sword although it gives me responsive arthritis it also has a remarkable side which stops viruses mutating like influenza, HIV, hepatitis, Epstein-Barr virus among other killer diseases to humans, I’ve offered my blood to be tested against Covid-19 and no one has taken me up on my offer, if you don’t believe me do your own research and Check out the power of HLA-B27 positive then you will understand why I’ve been trying to tell the world but I’m only getting ignored for some reason which I don’t understand if my blood could be used to fight killer viruses why not test it against Covid-19, it makes no sense to me not taking me up on my offer.
I have had clear confirmation that in Grenada under 20 people has had covid and thank God have all recovered well.. if this report is true which I personally dont believe how come no deaths ??? seeing as we are suseptible
I had a dream from the Lord several months ago, he keep repeating to me go and check and find out how many black people are dying from this disease. Of course I had no way of doing this physically but the dream troubled me and still does I was given this message in a form of dream to find something out. If we can collectively help to procect BAME we can eliminate its source and protect our race ✊?❤️
My gosh….what a report…..what have been saying all along…Being black in today’s United kingdom does not make you susceptible to the virus which then kills you (whatever they are saying)…what kills you is the way we are perceived and treated…AKA discrimination!!!!
Educate yourself based on facts and not emotional hyperbolic appeal such as this opinion piece is based and does far more harm to those who it seems to be aimed at influencing through misinformation and downplaying the CRITICAL ROLE AND IMPORTANCE OF VITAMIN D SUPPLEMENTATION.
Here is evidence of VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY from a MULTI YEAR ( over 10 THOUSAND PEOPLE IN THE STUDY ) randomized double blind placebo controlled study that PROVES that vitamin d supplementation reduces the probability of contracting BACTERIAL AND VIRAL RESPIRATORY VIRUSES up to 70 percent in those who are deficient
Do some basic research on published studies available YEARS BEFORE THE PANDEMIC .
The lack of journalistic integrity is one of the reasons that this information isn’t common sense.
Also look into published studies on MED PUB from 2016 about aged garlic extract being effective against corona viruses…
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4967842/
Thank you, Dr Winston for this article which has opened our eyes to some important facts we have been taken for granted as BME, one of them is our lifestyles in terms of our diets and exercise.
I believe we need to take a personal responsibility for this and must be willing to make changes as necessary and not wait for any government or institution to do it for us. We may not be able to change our inherent genetic make-up, but we can change how we live our lives in oder to control to dome extent how our genes function. I believe we can reduce these underlying conditions if we take a conscious interest in our total well being which may require striking a good balance between working, resting, eating and exercising . An adage says, Heaven helps those who help themselves. Racism has always been and it will always be, unfortunately. Despite this, we can still achieve a lot and have a meaningful life.
The spread of coronavirus in Africa is very low. The death tool is also very low. How come coronavirus is killing black people in the UK? Coronavirus virus plot is a fiasco. It will not work no matter what justification they are trying to give. The black race will always stand even if they are 10 time likely to have and die of coronavirus.
By the way if the scientists are suggesting that being black put one at risk of being infected and dying from Covid-19, what are black frontline workers still doing in the hospitals and care homes.
Why is the government not acting immediately to safeguard them.
The answer is simple; black people are the driving forces of NHS and the care system.
How is it possible that in UK there is still such a level of trash ignorance I’m appalled
I left a comment earlier and just like everyone else you have ignored me about HLA-B27 positive that I have in my blood which stops killer viruses from mutating like influenza, HIV, Epstein-Barr virus, hepatitis among other viruses, so why haven’t you posted my first reply is it that everyone I contact or reply to doesn’t want to believe in what I’m saying about HLA-B27 positive could be the cure for Covid-19 so why don’t you research it for yourself and put my post up as I’m offering my blood to test against Covid-19, as you never know one day you might wished you had listened to me.
I agree the article which shed light on structural racism. I completed my own research taking into account the demographics of eleven countries. Taking into account those with population of ethnic minorities whites, and those with Blacks, Asian and non whites ethnic minorities the number of deaths.of BAME are high in the UK and North America. I was the Coordinator for a BAME organisation (A.N.O.L.F) Association with Frontier for 4 years in Bergamo. The numbers of BAME deaths amount to 100 people in Germany, France Switzerland, Austria and in the north of Europe, also a very few BAME people according to my contact in Spain, Portugal and Turkey has reported the numbers are less than a hundred. There need to be external agents that assure the public about the actual numbers, and we must initiate an independent and immediate investigation.
There surely must be a reason why the virus is now pinned on black and other ethnic minority groups.
I think they just want to instill so much fear into blacks so that the vaccine can be targeted first or made to be mandatory on this group.
Comparing Spain, Italy, UK and Africa, clearly indicates its not a black man’s disease but only a propaganda to single this group out and intensify racism towards blacks.
Soon we will hear how other people don’t want to sit next to a black person on the train or be next to them because of fear of infection, after all they are more likely to be infected!
This is absolutely a lie and please like this article if anyone of standing can push their view to the newspaper or TV to do to create awareness of this unfair stigmatization.
This has been the most insightful thing I’ve read since covid-19 has become what it is. The present narrative I personally am not buying. I do however wish to thank Dr. Morgan for this laid bare article. It hit a few things I’ve experienced while recovering.
Great article and thoughtful insight. Only shame is the acronym BAME. No one should be referred to as (ethnic) minority (ethnic) in any circumstance. To understand, research the history of the word ‘ethnic’; and amongst other things it has its roots in the meanings heathen and barbaric.
lack of vitamin D is the caused of this, please get out into the sun and try getting some from the pharmacy to build your immune system.
I remember once going to the doctor feeling low and lack energy and when i explained my symptoms she explain that lack of vitamin D is the cause and affects our immune systems as well, she said our skin does not absorb this vitamin easily and staying in AC contribute to our weak immune system. Hope this helps
Very well written article Dr Morgan.. it seems the talk of race is a bitter pill for some to acknowledge and swallow.
Great article! The truth of the matter is that people of colour are being significantly impacted by this disease. We need to stand in solidarity and campaign for a public enquiry to be conducted and an assurance from this government that BLACK LIVES MATTER!
Why are these reporters keep pushing on why bame are dieing at a higher rate. All this does is terrify our young black children from going outside . And now will suffer racism like never seen before. like a another post above african & caribbean countries are not suffering as much at all. more white people are dieing in the uk from this virus but never gets mentioned . which means more white people are carrying the virus. but no we keep on repeating the same old lines 4 times more likely . and was confirmed today as twice as likely.our children watching the tv will be terrified . Stop scaring our children and young men they will have have a hard enough time getting a job now.They will be treated like they have leprosy .Concertrate on a cure for all as we know there isnt one.
What we do know is the ones that die have a weak immune system . lets all concentrate on building up our immune system like Dr Winston says.
THINK ABOUT OUR KIDS