More than 730,000 people in the U.S. have died due to COVID-19.
And nearly every state in the country has substantial or high levels of viral transmission.
The pandemic is absolutely not over, no matter what you may want to believe.
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It is an opportunity to unpack problematic notions surrounding disabled and immunocompromised people.
Social solidarity prioritizes people who are generally othered and treats us as important, valuable, and worthy.
And many people did engage in social solidarity.
They wore masks and stayed home and wanted to flatten the curve.
Getting vaccinated is absolutely an act of social solidarity but it cannot be where we stop.
With tacit permission from authority figures, many people are starting to view social solidarity as less necessary today.
I received a stem cell transplant in December 2020 to combat my advanced-stage leukemia.
When I wrote my last piece on social solidarity, my immune system was fragile because of my cancer.
My talking points started becoming intolerable to a steadily increasing percentage of people.
I even watched people who championed social solidarity last summer suddenly adopt misinformed talking points.
Yes, getting vaccinated against COVID-19 is a crucial step to protect yourself and those around you.
you’ve got the option to do the same with a neighbor, friend, or family member.
Do these practices completely implode your life?
You have no idea who you run into in public and who those same people go home to.
you’re free to also practice social solidarity from your phoneon social media.
(A great place to start is@covid19mutualaidon Instagram.)
We must understand the reality: We are still in a pandemic.
But when we lean into each other, theres an opportunity for the community to grow stronger.
Community says, Youre struggling?
Let me help you.
It says, You got my back?
Okay, Ive got yours, because we are in this together.
No person gets left behind.
No one is inherently less valuable than another person.
