When my partner and I faced the decision of whether to send our children back to in-person schooling, it took us about a week to come to a conclusion. We are a diverse family; I am Black, and my partner is Sri Lankan, while our kids are mixed. My partner, a former middle school teacher, and I, with a background in nonprofit work focusing on education, knew we wanted our children back in the classroom. We believed that if it could be done safely for students, teachers, and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic, that was the route we should take. We meticulously reviewed our district’s reopening plan, engaged our children in discussions, and reflected on our options.
Ultimately, we opted for a hybrid model, with our kids attending school two days a week and learning from home for the remaining three. While we didn’t explicitly voice it, we both understood the importance of our kids being back in their classrooms. However, many Black families across the nation made a different choice, opting to keep their children at home full-time as a precaution against the virus. In a climate where some communities and school districts have taken a political stance on reopening schools, Black communities are often left grappling with the consequences of systemic inequality.
Research indicates that individuals with pre-existing health conditions are at a higher risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19. According to the U.S. Department of Health, Black individuals are 60% more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes and 40% more likely to suffer from hypertension, which can lead to heart disease—one of the leading causes of death within Black communities. For families like mine, where my partner lives with diabetes, the decision to send children back to school can feel like a matter of life and death. With over 225,000 lives lost in the United States alone and 71,000 new cases reported daily, it is clear why many Black families are apprehensive.
A recent article from Chalkbeat highlighted that Black and Latino parents tend to be more hesitant about returning to in-person schooling compared to their white counterparts, likely due to the disproportionate impact of the pandemic on their communities. With communities of color being disproportionately affected, the choice to keep children home, while challenging, was evident to many. Sending a child back to school could also mean risking the health of a beloved family member, such as a grandparent or aunt with a pre-existing condition.
When a Black family decides to pursue distance learning to minimize exposure to this dangerous virus, they are exercising a choice that has not always been available to them. They are prioritizing their health in the best way they know how, especially when considering the racial disparities present in healthcare. As reported by US News, 13.7% of adults aged 18 to 64 were uninsured in the first half of 2019, reflecting stark racial disparities: 27.2% of Hispanic adults and 13.6% of Black adults lacked insurance. Fortunately, my family has health insurance, allowing us to seek medical attention without the burden of financial concerns—a privilege not shared by many in the ongoing racial and socio-economic divide in America.
Black parents are prioritizing safety for themselves and their children over returning to the classroom. However, health concerns are not the only reason for their preference for remote learning; systemic issues within the education system often lead to Black students being unfairly targeted or disproportionately suspended. A 2013 Brown Center Report indicated that in one California school district, for every 1,000 Black students, 235 received out-of-school suspensions, exacerbating the educational gap.
The decision to keep Black children home is fundamentally linked to both safety from COVID-19 and the pursuit of educational equity. While my family chose to send our kids back to school, I fully understand why other Black families felt they had no other option. The decision is complex—balancing health against the education system we have fought so hard to be a part of.
Ultimately, every family must evaluate their unique circumstances and make informed choices. As parents, we constantly navigate difficult decisions, particularly families of color, who face challenges that others may not comprehend. As we brace for a potential second wave of the pandemic, the importance of choosing what is best for our families has never been more critical.
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Summary:
Many Black families are choosing to keep their children home for distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic as a safety measure. This decision is influenced by health concerns, systemic inequalities, and the desire to protect vulnerable family members. The struggle to balance health and education reflects broader societal issues, with families making difficult choices based on their unique circumstances.