South Floridaâs Black communities are trapped in a vicious cycle of inequality. Access to adequate food and health sources to sustain impoverished neighborhoods is close to nonexistent.
For decades, Black people have been diagnosed with chronic illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, obesity and hypertension at a much higher rate than any other group. Though genetic predispositions do play a role in these diagnoses, it all boils down to two things â diet and lifestyle choices.
At a time where preexisting conditions provide a deadly bullâs-eye for the coronavirus, food and pharmacy deserts have played a major role in the mortality rate among Black populations since the start of the pandemic. Both also contribute to the low vaccination rate in those same communities. The limited availability of supermarkets and pharmacies has proven to be critical to the well-being of Black communities â historically and now â as the pandemic rages on and pharmacies help facilitate vaccine administration.