Pandemics and Privilege Edition
Hey y’all,
I was traveling in Europe but decided to come back early after the President announced that he would close our borders to Europe as of last Friday. (wow - what twilight zone is this?!)
Hamdullah, I am now back in D.C. safe and sound, and, thanks to the coronavirus, bae and I have decided to do our part by not leaving the house for at least the next two weeks . . . and are prepared to stay inside (making babies) for much longer if necessary.
I am, frankly, startled that so many people refuse to simply stay put when they have a choice, but I have to recognize right now (and this is where the privilege comes in) that MOST Americans do not actually have a choice in the matter.
Personally, I am allowed to work from home and, thankfully, there are precious few things you need in this life that cannot be delivered to our concierge downstairs.
If this sounds like the lifestyles of the young and entitled, you would be right. But that is exactly the point I am trying to make.
I am privileged. I am a man, and am therefore privileged. I am young, and am therefore privileged. I am cis-gendered, and am therefore privileged. I have a job with sick leave and benefits, and am therefore extraordinarily privileged. I have internet at home, and am therefore privileged. I can afford to feed myself and my family, and am therefore privileged.
If there is any silver lining at all to this Coronavirus fiasco, it is this: the Average American, irrespective of political affiliation, creed or color, is (hopefully) starting to come to the stark and unsettling realization that most Americans do not have access to critical support systems that would allow them to properly withstand this kind of crisis - or really - any crisis.
A crisis that will probably last for many months . . . in the United States.
Many states have closed schools for the foreseeable future (a step in the right direction), but most poor children eat their best (read: only) meals at school. Thankfully, smart policy makers in the state of Maryland are providing meals even though schools are closed, but what about all of the other kids in the Union?
Speaking of children, now that they are home, who is going to take care of them? In most working class households, both parents have to work.
. . . so we closed schools to prevent the spread of the virus but the parents are most likely going to bring it home to their kids anyway because they don’t have sick leave?
For those who are sick and do stay home, are they at risk of getting fired? How will they pay their rent if they simply take time off without pay? How will they buy groceries? How will they pay their bills?
For those with the “option” of working from home, what about those who can’t afford the exorbitant, oligarchic/monopolistic pricing models of the two or three major internet companies? Who can afford to pay school loans and 150 dollars every month for something as basic as internet access. In Europe, folks pay 20 to 30 dollars . . .
And I would be remiss if I did not say a little something about that bitch, Sallie Mae! It is not enough to give people a break from student loan interest. These loans are predatory at best and utterly debilitating every other day of the year.
So how do you pay Sallie Mae AND stay home from work? How do you work from home if you don’t have internet? How do you buy groceries if you’re not getting paid?
You can’t. Most people in the U.S. cannot.
So to those who are doing what they need to do to survive - I salute you.
To the rest of you privileged few . . . y’all need to get your shit together. You don’t have to go to that circuit party. You don’t have to check out the new brunch spot that recently kicked out the last black tenants on U street. And you certainly don’t need a years’ supply of toilet paper.
Stay home. Read some books. Call your parents. For those of us who can actually afford to do this “social distancing” thing, let’s do it together. Please take it seriously.
That’s all . . .
Peace and blessings to all of you,
#thetrendyone
