Black Lives: In the Era of COVID-19

In this special episode, hosts Samuel Roberts and Mabel O. Wilson convene a roundtable with Prof. Wafaa El-Sadr, MD of Columbia University, Prof. Gregg Gonsalves of Yale University, and Dr. Bisola Ojikutu of Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital to discuss how structural inequities and racism impact the lived (and dying) experiences during this ongoing pandemic.

In the final episode of this series, our hosts Samuel Roberts and Mabel O. Wilson speak with Prof. Alondra Nelson, president of the Social Science Research Council. Prof. Nelson shares her observations on the changes, adaptations, and recurring issues that have unfolded during the novel coronavirus pandemic through a sociological lens. Please join us here for future episodes on Black Lives. 

In our eighth episode, hosts Samuel Roberts and Mabel O. Wilson speak with Prof. Steven Thrasher of Northwestern University. Prof. Thrasher discusses his work on social justice and the LGBTQ community, including the ways that “racism, homophobia, policing, medicine, incarceration, culture, and health intersect.” Thrasher also discusses the ways the HIV epidemic has shaped our current coronavirus response, as well as his upcoming project.

In this episode, Samuel Roberts and Mabel O. Wilson are in conversation with Jelani Cobb, author and Ira A. Lipman Professor of Journalism. Prof. Cobb talks about our current circumstances - the coronavirus crisis and the ongoing uprisings stemming from police violence - through a historical and journalistic lens. Included in this discussion are this year’s election and Cobb’s upcoming book project.

In our sixth episode, Samuel Roberts and Mabel O. Wilson are joined by Saeeda Dunston, executive director of Elmcor Youth & Adult Activities, Inc., a non-profit, multi-service organization located in Queens, New York. Ms. Dunston speaks about how the novel coronavirus has impacted those receiving support, how Elmcor is dealing with the increasing need for services, and what organizing looks like in the current era. 

This week, our hosts Samuel Roberts and Mabel O. Wilson speak with Matt Swain, a hospital worker who shares his experience of working during the pandemic. Mr. Swain discusses the changes he witnessed to protocols and procedures at his job, issues with personal protective equipment, and his own concerns over exposure to the virus. Swain also talks about the more personal aspects of functioning during the crisis in New York City.

In this episode, our hosts Samuel Roberts and Mabel O. Wilson talk with Prof. Keesha Middlemass of Howard University. Prof. Middlemass discusses the effects of the novel coronavirus as it travels through jails and prisons in the U.S., and how exposure and infection impact incarcerated populations and those who are re-entering communities. Included in this discussion are the ways in which the carceral system has changed under COVID-19.

In the third episode in this series, hosts Samuel Roberts and Mabel O. Wilson speak with Oni Blackstock, M.D., M.H.S., Assistant Commissioner for the New York City Health Department’s Bureau of HIV. Dr. Blackstock discusses the impacts of race on health services, including the disparities and inequities in health outcomes. Dr. Blackstock also talks about the parallels between her work in HIV prevention and treatment and the response to the novel coronavirus.

In this episode, our hosts Samuel Roberts and Mabel O. Wilson are joined by Metropolitan Transportation Authority conductor, union member, and community organizer Tramell Thompson. Mr. Thompson speaks about the impact of the novel coronavirus on New York City transit workers including the dangers, disparities, and loss experienced by some of the City’s most essential workers.

In the first episode of “Black Lives: In the Era of COVID-19” Columbia University’s Samuel Roberts and Mabel O. Wilson speak with Prof. Malo Hutson, academic scholar and practitioner in the areas of community development, racial and ethnic inequalities, urban sustainability, and urban policy. Prof. Hutson discusses how the built environment impacts health in Black communities, especially in New York City.