COVID-19 and Racial Unrest: Turmoil and Opportunity: A Commentary on Two Papers

ABSTRACT

Both Harris and Howard in their thoughtful papers examine the intersection of the psyche and the social in the context of COVID-19 and racial unrest. The combination of these events has brought into sharp focus the impact of the social on intrapsychic functions. Especially in relation to African Americans and low-income persons, we observe the varied impact of racist and capitalistic driven systemic inequities and the conflicts and resistances that they generate. Psychoanalytic perspectives offer the possibility through reflection, education, and atonement to inform attempts to promote self-care, enlightened interventions, and system change.

KEYWORDS:

• COVID-19
• racism
• psychoanalysis
• atonement
• self-care

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

C. Jama Adams

C. Jama Adams, Ph.D., is in the Department of Africana Studies at John Jay College of Criminal Justice at The City University of New York.