When it came time for my partner and me to determine whether to send our children back to school for in-person learning, we spent about a week weighing our options. As a multi-ethnic family—I’m African American and my partner is of Indian descent—we were acutely aware of the implications of our decision. My partner, a former middle school educator, and I, who have dedicated a significant part of my career to educational nonprofits, felt the strong desire for our children to return to the classroom. We believed that if it could be done safely for students, teachers, and staff during the pandemic, we would go for it. We meticulously reviewed our district’s reopening plan, engaged in discussions with our children, and prayed for guidance.
For our family, opting for a hybrid learning model felt right. Our kids attend school two days a week and study from home for the other three. While we didn’t overtly discuss it, both my partner and I understood the importance of our children being present in their classrooms. However, many Black families across the nation made a different choice, opting to keep their children at home as a precaution against COVID-19. While various communities and school districts seemed to gamble on reopening (in line with political pressures to return to normal), Black communities continue to bear the weight of systemic racial inequities.
Research shows that individuals with pre-existing health conditions face a higher risk from COVID-19. According to the U.S. Department of Health, Black individuals are 60% more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes and 40% more likely to suffer from hypertension, a precursor to heart disease, which is the leading cause of death in the Black community. For many families, including ours—since my partner has diabetes—sending children back to school isn’t just a logistical decision; it’s a matter of life or death. Given the staggering statistics—with over 225,000 lives lost in the U.S. and daily case counts exceeding 71,000—it’s understandable why Black families are apprehensive.
A recent article from Chalkbeat highlighted that “National and state polls indicate that Black and Latino parents are more hesitant about returning to in-person schooling than their white counterparts.” This hesitation reflects the disproportionate impact of the pandemic on communities of color, where individuals are dying at higher rates. For families in these communities, keeping children home is a difficult but clear choice, especially when it involves protecting loved ones—like grandparents or family members with health issues.
When a Black family opts for distance learning to minimize exposure to this lethal virus, they are exercising a choice that hasn’t always been available to them. They are prioritizing their health in the best way they know how, particularly given the glaring disparities in healthcare access. As reported by US News, approximately 13.7% of adults aged 18 to 64 were uninsured in early 2019, with significant racial disparities. Among Hispanic adults, 27.2% lacked insurance, while 13.6% of Black adults were uninsured, compared to 7.4% of Asian adults and 9.8% of white adults. My family is fortunate to have health insurance, allowing us to seek medical care without the constant worry of financial strain—a privilege that underscores the long-standing racial and economic disparities in America.
Black parents are making the conscious choice to prioritize safety—both their own and their children’s—over returning to traditional classroom settings. However, the rationale for preferring remote learning extends beyond health concerns. In some schools, students of color face disproportionate disciplinary actions, such as suspensions. A 2013 report from the Brown Center on American Education revealed that in one California school district, 235 out of every 1,000 Black students were suspended, exacerbating existing educational inequalities.
The decision to keep Black children at home is fundamentally about safeguarding against COVID-19 and ensuring they remain on an equitable academic path, free from discriminatory treatment. Although my family decided against keeping our kids home, I empathize with those who felt they had no alternative. Choosing health over traditional education is a weighty decision, especially for families who have fought for their place in the classroom.
Ultimately, we must make decisions that align with our family’s needs and carefully consider the options available to us. As parents, we face challenging choices that persist throughout our lives. Families of color, in particular, navigate struggles that others may not fully understand. As we confront the second wave of the pandemic, the power to make informed choices for our families has never been more crucial.
For more insights on family health and parenting, check out this other blog post on home insemination.
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Summary:
Many Black families are choosing to keep their children home from school due to health concerns associated with COVID-19, particularly given the higher prevalence of pre-existing conditions in their communities. While some families opt for hybrid learning, others prioritize safety, fearing the virus’s impact on their loved ones. The choice to keep kids home reflects broader racial and economic disparities, as families navigate the complexities of education during a pandemic, balancing health and academic needs.
Keyphrase: Black families keeping kids home from school
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