TOPLINE
A blurry photo showing a CNN headline (“Two Deadly Viruses Are Killing Americans: Covid-19 And Racism”) and posted to Twitter became the platform’s most-liked tweet this week according to data from social media tracking firm NewsWhip, as turbulent protests triggered by George Floyd’s death brought thousands of Americans to the street, while the coronavirus pandemic is ongoing and unemployment reaches record levels.
Smoke rises around a Minneapolis protester during a Saturday demonstration to call for justice for … [+]
KEY FACTS
“What a headline,” wrote Twitter user @1kingmyles about the CNN chyron, which was displayed during CNN Tonight’s May 27 broadcast.
As of Sunday afternoon, the tweet had generated nearly 3 million likes and had been shared over 870,000 times.
In the video clip, Lemon discusses the deaths of Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery, along with the viral video of Amy Cooper calling the cops on a black man in Central Park, saying that longstanding racism, along with Covid-19, are infecting America.
Over 1.7 million Americans have been infected with Covid-19, while over 103,000 have died—but Centers for Disease Control data suggests black people are more likely to be hospitalized with coronavirus, while Wired reports that economic inequality, lack of access to quality healthcare, food deserts and other structural inequities contribute to black people being disproportionately impacted by the pandemic.
According to data from the Washington Post on shootings in the U.S. by race, black people account for less than 13% of the overall population, but are shot and killed at a rate far higher than white people.
NewsWhip’s Twitter engagement data comes from its database of influential users, which tracks around 350,000 accounts.
Black people are killed in police shootings at a higher rate per million.
Crucial quote
“There are two major crises in this country tonight. Two deadly viruses killing Americans. COVID-19, Racism-20. Now we all know that racism is not new this year, but the latest racially-charged incident is from just last night,” said Lemon, referencing the video of a police officer kneeling on Floyd’s neck. “Racism is infecting this country, continues to infect this country. Just as surely as COVID-19. And we don’t only see it in encounters between African Americans and the police. It even infects a simple walk in the park.”
Big number
16.7%. That’s the black unemployment rate during the pandemic, according to data from the Department of Labor. The Hispanic rate stands at 18.9%, and according to Guardian, unemployment among blacks and Hispanics is typically double the white unemployment rate. Economists cited by the Washington Post said that the two groups tend to be concentrated in industries impacted by the pandemic, with jobs that can’t be done from home.
Key background
George Floyd’s death stoked nationwide outrage during a time in which people have largely been sheltering in place and unable to live their normal lives due to the pandemic. Historic unemployment and a desire among a significant number of Americans to end police killings of black people have seemingly created a powder keg. Protests are entering their sixth day, and in preceding nights have been volatile and marked by buildings set on fire, looting and violent altercations between protesters and police. President Trump has largely remained silent, and done little to call for calm or unity. He has, however, described protesters as “THUGS” and recommended additional law enforcement presence.
Further reading
As America Burned, President Trump Largely Stayed Silent (Forbes)
This is how economic pain is distributed in America (Washington Post)
Covid-19 Is Killing Black People Unequally—Don’t Be Surprised (Wired)
U.S. Police Shootings: Blacks Disproportionately Affected (Statista)
Wave Of George Floyd Protests Continues Into Sixth Day (Forbes)
