According to reports, cases of monkeypox are declining, but racial disparities of infection are growing.
Here’s what needs to change.
To contextualize this, lets first look at the very name of monkeypox and its problematic insinuation.
Monkey is a derogatory term when used to describe African and Black people.
The name monkeypox and its racist associations with BIPOC perpetuate social stigma that reinforces racial disparities.
All of this is to say that words and names are important.
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Discovered in 1958 and a cousin to smallpox, monkeypox originated in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Yep, you read that correctlynot Africa, but Denmark.
Furthermore, monkeys were infected with the virus by rodents.
Still, the name monkeypox and its racist associations with BIPOC perpetuate social stigma that reinforces racial disparities.
Consider 4H, the precursor term to HIV/AIDS.
(And before 4H caught on, HIV was originally called GRID, or gay-related immune deficiency.
I dont know which name is worse.)
Its Amazing How Its All Connected.
What if we cared equally for every human body from the very start of the outbreak?
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We are seeing this today with monkeypox.
And then theres the wider scope of generalhealth-care shortcomings for BIPOC.
This pattern of having racial discrimination unpinning viral outbreaks is supported by a culture of white supremacy.
But, we are not without options to change this landscape.
If we continue to stigmatize monkeypox, then the pattern will continue.
Viruses dont discriminate; they look for a host, a body of any identity and intersectionality to infect.
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