The Roots Of Vaccine Skepticism In Black Communities

Sonali Kolhatkar speaks with Alexandre White about Black communities' skepticism in a COVID vaccine.

A new survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation has found that a whopping 35% of African Americans would probably or definitely not take the Covid-19 vaccine.

The numbers are alarming especially considering that Black Americans have been the hardest impact racial group in the nation from the virus. But while there is vaccine skepticism among other communities as well, the roots of medical distrust in the Black community are unique and stem from the disturbing history of medical experimentation.

Read Alexandre White’s Lancet paper, called ‘Reckoning with histories of medical racism and violence in the USA,’ HERE.

Alexandre White, Assistant Professor of Sociology and History of Medicine at Johns Hopkins University.

Rising Up with Sonali is a radio and television show that brings progressive news coverage rooted in gender and racial justice to a wide audience. Rising Up With Sonali was built on the foundation of Sonali Kolhatkar's earlier show, Uprising, which became the longest-running drive-time radio show on KPFK in Los Angeles hosted by a woman. RUS airs on Free Speech TV every weekday.

Missed an episode? Check out Rising Up on FSTV VOD anytime or visit the show page for the latest clips.

#FreeSpeechTV is one of the last standing national, independent news networks committed to advancing progressive social change.

#FSTV is available on Dish, DirectTV , AppleTV, Roku, Sling and online at freespeech.org.

African Americans Alexandre White Black Black Communiites Coronavirus Covid COVID-19 Free Speech TV Kaiser Family Foundation Pandemic Rising Up with Sonali Sonali Kolhatkar