As COVID-19 surged in the United States and only those deemed “essential workers” were asked to go to work, the pandemic made clear that the workers most critical to American life are disproportionately people of color, and among the country’s lowest paid.

Through video diaries and interviews shared over the course of several months, four of these workers shared their experiences of the pandemic in a country that offers little in the way of a safety net for its most vulnerable workers.

Two gig economy workers struggle to protect themselves from the virus and earn enough to sustain their families. An Amazon worker organizes in his workplace to demand more from the company, and a first responder fights to save lives amid wrenching death tolls.

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