Dr. Fauci claims COVID-19 pandemic exposed 'the undeniable effects of racism' in America

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the chief medical adviser to President Joe Biden, claimed Sunday the coronavirus pandemic has revealed that America is incredibly racist.

What did Fauci say?

Speaking at a graduation ceremony for Emory University via webcast, Fauci claimed COVID-19 has exacerbated "the undeniable effects of racism" in America.

"COVID-19 has shown a bright light on our own society's failings," Fauci said, adding the disease "has uncovered a stark reality and failing of our own society."

Specifically, Fauci said the pandemic exposed "social determinants" — racial disparities engraved into American society, a tenet of critical race theory — that limit access to health care for people of color and make them especially vulnerable to diseases.

Such realities, Fauci claimed, make black people, Hispanics, and Native Americans more susceptible to chronic health problems, which meant they are more likely to face complications if they contract COVID-19.

"Now, very few of these comorbidities have racial determinants. Almost all relate to the social determinants of health dating back to disadvantageous conditions that some people of color find themselves in from birth regarding the availability of an adequate diet, access to health care, and the undeniable effects of racism in our society," Fauci said.

"Let us promise ourselves that our corporate memory of this tragic reality — that an infectious disease disparately kills people of color — does not fade," Fauci continued. "Righting this wrong will take a decades-long commitment. I urge you to be part of that commitment"

Dr. Fauci: Pandemic Exposed 'Undeniable Effects Of Racism'www.youtube.com

What does the data show?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released data last fall showing that, by and large, black people and Hispanics were disproportionately more likely to face complications from COVID-19, such as hospitalization and death, than white Americans.

In fact, analysis revealed that of the more than 114,000 Americans who died of COVID-19 between May and August 2020, nearly 19% were black and more than 24% were Hispanic.

Those numbers are disproportionate with American demographics, considering that just 13.4% of Americans are black and 18.5% are Hispanic.

"CDC researchers said in Friday's report that the disproportionately higher death rates among nonwhites likely stems from different cultural and socioeconomic causes," The Hill reported. "Minorities are more likely to live in multigenerational or multifamily housing; more likely to work in jobs that require their physical presence such as meatpacking, service and health care jobs; and more likely to suffer from underlying conditions, such as diabetes and obesity, that are tied to worse outcomes among COVID-19 patients."