Hey there! So, for the next few days, we're centering Black scientists and academics on our show,

highlighting their expertise, experiences, and how they're processing both the pandemic and the

protests. Yesterday, we celebrated hashtag BlackbirdersWeek, and tomorrow, Saturday, we have an

episode from our friends at NPR's Code Switch that puts this moment into historical context.

Be sure to check that out. All right, onto the show.

You're listening to Shortwave from NPR.

For over a week, there have been protests around the globe in response to the death of George Floyd,

and the ongoing systemic racism that has woven into the fabric of the United States.

Racism that has led to countless public health crises in Black communities.

For many, these protests have raised additional public health concerns,

we're in the midst of a coronavirus pandemic. The potential for transmission from close proximity

and loud chanting to potentially being jailed in close quarters inside.

In both of these public health crises, systemic racism and the coronavirus pandemic,

Black Americans are dying at a disproportionately high rate.

So, in order to understand all of this from a public health standpoint, what the risks are,

and how public health experts are weighing them, naturally, we called up David Williams.

I am a professor of public health and African and African American studies at Harvard University.

And for over 30 years, David spent his time researching.

The social influences on health, race and ethnicity, socioeconomic status,

stress, health behaviors, religious involvement, factors outside of the traditional medical domain

that we would think of, but nonetheless, are very consequential for health.

What I'm saying is, David is kind of a big deal in this field.

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