COVID-19 is affecting everyone around the world in different ways. In particular, communities of color in the Lehigh Valley have been severely impacted by cultural issues such as language barriers and lack of insurance, which prevents people from receiving quality healthcare. Healthcare in the United States is unfortunately not a basic right for all, and to have access to adequate healthcare, one usually needs insurance. However, according to the US Census, around 27 million people did not have insurance in 2018. This number likely consists of lower-income families who often do not have the extra money to afford insurance. When a member of a lower-income community gets COVID-19, they first need to find a hospital that has an open ICU. Once they locate an open ICU, they must be prepared to pay its hefty bill. To add to this, many people of color work as frontline workers as members of lower-income communities, and these positions do not usually provide health insurance. Various studies also show that a major reason why communities of color have been disproportionately impacted by COVID is because of communication gaps regarding COVID-related information. Communities of color often have lower “health literacy,” meaning they have less experience finding and evaluating health care information. When medical institutions don’t provide information about illnesses, such as COVID-19, in terms -or even the language- that some people (ie. immigrants) need, it takes longer for facts and recommendations to trickle down. In addition, since people of color statistically have the highest poverty rates, they are also impacted by the lack of housing/job security and employment opportunities during the pandemic. For instance, people of color, specifically those of Hispanic ethnicity, are more likely to live in crowded households, thus increasing their risk of contracting COVID. Furthermore, the overall effects of systemic racism and rise in media coverage of police brutality during the pandemic are likely contributing factors to the declining mental and physical health of African American communities in the Lehigh Valley. It is also worth noting that the lasting effects of systemic racism within healthcare have fueled a general distrust of healthcare workers/hospitals within communities of color, which makes them less likely to seek medical treatment. All of these cultural issues are factors that we must consider during our research on the impact the COVID is having on communities of color.
Although each member of our team comes from a different part of the U.S., we all call the Lehigh Valley “home” for now. Bethlehem hosts a large Hispanic community, and Spanish-speaking immigrants inform the culture. Their presence is a large part of the history of Bethlehem Steel where Latino-laborers worked to build Bethlehem into a booming and lucrative steel industry. The principles of hard work and dedication are still alive among the population long after Bethlehem Steel closed. Communities of color continue to work in blue-collar, high-risk jobs that do not provide healthcare yet make up the fabric of the community. For example, at Lehigh University the custodial staff are people of color, but the higher-paying managerial positions are filled by white men. It is likely that when these blue-collar workers contract COVID, they will have less access to quality healthcare and incur higher costs. Allentown’s culture has also been influenced greatly by immigrants. Its cuisine, art, and music stem from places like Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Africa. However, the poverty rate in Allentown is 27.3%; Black people make up 28.3% and Hispanic people make up 35.2% of the population in poverty. The lower-income communities have been hit harder by the economic recession. They have lost their jobs and been evicted from their housing. Moreover, the homeless and impoverished are being forced to find immediate permanent housing. But many housing programs require identification, income, credit, and work history, which they do not have. Finally, people of color established a culture in the Lehigh Valley that values community, family, and religion. The gentrification of South Bethlehem poses a threat to the community. With more money being funded to attract tourists and potential movers, the urban and ethnic areas may be invaded by a wealthier population. Gentrification changes the cultural and physical landscape of the Lehigh Valley and displaces the current communities of color.
One example of a way to address the community, specifically the communities of color within the Lehigh Valley would be to find ways to communicate to these communities in areas where they frequent going due to cultural needs or reasons. For example, within the Lehigh Valley, there are only a few Hispanic grocery stores so having some type of information posted in those few locations would target the populations we are looking to help. Another example of how we can address these communities is through their religious affiliations. Many communities of color have very strong church communities so creating contact with the person in charge of these churches and being able to interact with them at these locations would be very beneficial. And finally, the third example of how we can address the community would be through radio and media. One of the most common ways that the Hispanic community receives their information is through the use of radio and television. During the election and census season, “La Mega” radio station was responsible for a large majority of Hispanics registering to vote, some of whom had been eligible for many years, but chose to forgo their right to vote due to lack of trust. Media influencers are crucial to informing listeners about key issues that affect their everyday lives. Most importantly, the information being spread is through people who speak their language which invokes trust.