As we navigate the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the mask mandates have impacted many aspects of daily life. Recently, a troubling incident involving a masked individual caught my attention and made me rethink grocery shopping with my black children.
A gentleman from a city neighborhood, dressed casually in a hoodie and sweatpants, was approached by police after leaving a store. The officer asked him for his receipt and identification, expressing his suspicion that the man “looked like he was up to something.” This individual was actually a state representative, who later tweeted, “What does someone who is up to something look like?” His experience is just one example of the implicit bias that people of color face, particularly when wearing a mask.
Since the beginning of March, my four black children haven’t set foot in a store. We’ve adhered to shelter-in-place orders and the requirement to wear masks. While I understand the necessity of these measures for public health, I can’t ignore the bias my children may encounter. With the presence of heightened security and the potential for misunderstandings, I fear for their safety.
I’ve taught my kids strict rules for shopping: no hoods up, no hands in pockets, and they must never shop alone. They can only touch items they intend to buy and must always obtain a receipt, regardless of the purchase’s size. In contrast, my experiences as a white woman in stores are vastly different. I move freely, able to browse without suspicion, and leave without anyone questioning my intentions.
This disparity in treatment is heartbreaking. The experiences of others, like a doctor in Miami who was handcuffed while loading his van with supplies for the homeless, show that racism persists regardless of one’s status or intentions. A viral video recently highlighted a delivery driver who was blocked by a homeowner merely for doing his job. These incidents serve as stark reminders that people of color, even when simply complying with mask mandates, can be unjustly targeted.
The implications of these experiences are significant. The COVID-19 pandemic may pose public health challenges, but it also exposes the deeper societal issues of racism and bias. As one representative poignantly stated, “COVID will not break us. It will only reveal to us what is already broken.”
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In summary, the mask mandates, while crucial for health safety, add another layer of complexity for families of color. The experiences of individuals like the state representative illustrate the challenges that many face, and it’s a stark reminder that we must continue to confront these societal biases.
Keyphrase: COVID-19 Mask Mandates and Racial Bias
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