By now, we've all heard the story that black people aren't getting vaccinated for COVID-19

at the same rate as white folks because of deep and historic mistrust.

But that's not the whole story.

We were sitting and waiting, waiting and waiting to get called.

You know, we've been waiting probably a couple of months.

Janice Phillips wants the vaccine for her and her mother.

Just a few months into the rollout and it's already pretty clear that gaps are emerging

between who gets the vaccine and who doesn't and we're seeing old, typical patterns.

Fewer than 7% of vaccine doses have gone to black Americans nationwide.

In New Jersey, where Janice lives, that number drops to 4%.

Even though the state is about 15% black, Janice is from Trenton, the state capital, and

I know Trenton well.

I actually worked for one of the local papers there years ago, the Trentonian, and there's

some things you should know about this city.

First off, it's almost 50% black while the surrounding towns and Mercer County are mostly

white.

The city is poorer and has a higher unemployment rate than the county and the state.

It's dense and segregated and struggles with many of the typical racial disparities you

see in other urban centers across the country.

All of this means its residents are more vulnerable during this pandemic and it means many

Trentonians are also being denied proper access to the vaccine.

Black people in Trenton have gotten about one third of the doses.

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