We are living in difficult and uncertain times. Many of us are angry and outraged by the heretofore mostly unchecked police brutality towards African Americans and other people of color, that is driven by racism and white privilege. We are also angry and outraged by the structural racism that permeates every facet of American society; racism that has become concretely transparent to many due to the disparities revealed by COVID 19. Looking beneath the surface the pandemic has not only revealed the disparities in health care, but also disparities in employment and economic status, education, and quality of life for black and brown people.
According to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, African Americans make up 14% of the state’s population but account for 44% of coronavirus deaths. The murder of George Floyd has sparked demonstrations and protests in all 50 states and around the world demanding justice and change in racist practices and policies that are costing people’s lives. We are demanding transparency and policy changes that hold police and police departments accountable for using excessive force. Many communities are examining their public safety strategies and looking for ways to more effectively address domestic situations and mental health crises as a start.
Protestors are demanding change. Young people and Black Lives Matter proponents are impatient for change. We are hopeful as we see policy makers actively pursuing strategies that are more socially just as they are recognizing the ways in which racism is contributing to many unjust policies and practices. Corporations are also engaged in similar examinations and see the need to tackle racism by a variety of vehicles including training, hiring, and changes to marketing images.
The pandemic has forced many of us to self-isolate. This too is contributing to our emotional pain and fears. The current environment is devastating as the reality of the civil rights movement, led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., 50+ years later, seems to have made little significant change towards the beautiful society he dreamed of for this country. We are heart sick and in pain.
These circumstances have led TAASC to provide programming that reflects this year’s theme: Racism and its Impact on Optimum Health for Older Adults of Color. We are planning to host our events virtually and invite you to participate and send us suggestions for program topics. You will note that our webpage also has links to Turner Senior Wellness Programs and Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) programming for your convenience.
Please mark your calendars for Fun Day, Saturday, August 15, 2020 and our annual Martin Luther King, Jr., event for January 21, 2021. We will host these events via Zoom which will allow us to see and hear each other. If you are unfamiliar with Zoom, it can be downloaded for free on your cell phones, tablets, computers, etc. There is an OLLI tutorial on how to use Zoom. Here’s the link: https://olli-umich.org/olli/index.php/member/video_ctlg/viewVideo/267. Please try it out and practice so you are ready to actively participate with us for Fun Day on August 15.
Please visit our webpage for updates and links to other community events that might be of interest: [https://medicine.umich.edu/dept/geriatrics-center/community-programs/turner-senior-resource-center/turner-african-american-services-council-taasc]
My wish is that our events will be meaningful and helpful to you. Please be well and stay safe.
Faye Askew-King
TAASC Chair