Centre for Civic Inclusion to hold online talk about race, COVID-19
Desmond Cole and MPP Laura Mae Lindo discuss the impacts of virus on racialized communities
The Hamilton Centre for Civic Inclusion (HCCI) is launching a series of online anti-racism talks, beginning with a session on the impacts of COVID-19 on racialized communities on Wednesday, April 29.
“When we look at it from a holistic perspective: race plays a part, gender plays a part, income status plays a part,” said Kojo Damptey, the interim director of the Hamilton Centre for Civic Inclusion (HCCI).
The first session will be hosted by Laura Mae Lindo, the MPP for Kitchener Centre and the NDP’s anti-racism critic, and Desmond Cole, a journalist, activist and author. They will discuss the impact of government policy and existing social structures on racialized people during COVID-19.
Damptey said racialized communities are disproportionately affected by crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Since many essential workers are racialized or low-wage earners, they are more likely to be exposed to the physical and psychological risks of the COVID-19 pandemic, such as safety in the workplace and on public transit, and the stress of living in small spaces. “What does that mean for mental health when you are in an apartment,” he said. “As opposed to if you live in a house and have a huge backyard.”
The HCCI has asked Hamilton Public Health to begin to collect race-based COVID-19 demographic data. But Damptey said race is just one of the factors that affects how communities are affected by COVID-19.
“We’re talking about the right to housing and income equality and fair wages. That’s how these all play out in terms of its effects on racialized people and racialized communities.”
The HCCI is hosting the online discussions in lieu of the first Hamilton Anti-Racism Conference, which was scheduled for late-March and cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions. It has been tentatively rescheduled for September, pending advice from health authorities. Until then, HCCI is inviting speakers and panellists to address issues surrounding race, health, education and policy on their platforms.
“We’re trying to feature some of the speakers that were was supposed to be present at the conference that has been postponed,” he said.
The sessions are open to the public, and will be livestreamed, beginning at 6 p.m., on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter. A recording will be posted to the HCCI website and social media for those who are unable to attend. For more information go to hcci.ca. The HCCI’s next online sessions are scheduled for May 13 and 27.