Medical mistreatment, inequity lead to vaccine hesitancy for Black Americans →

By Amudalat Ajasa, Amanda Paule and Ian S. Brundige

By late June, Yolanda Corbett, a single mother of three living in Washington, D.C., was certain she would not get the COVID-19 vaccine. She wanted to protect her family more than anything, and while the vaccine might be a clear sign of hope for many, Corbett wasn’t convinced.

“All of a sudden a country that has literally kept a foot on our necks for years, and even during a pandemic has shown that it has no interest in collectively supporting us as human beings or as a people of color, to put my life and my family’s lives in your hands, to trust that you want to suddenly give me a vaccine that’s going to save us,” Corbett said.

LOGGING ON: YOUNG ACTIVISTS TURN TO SOCIAL MEDIA TO RAISE MONEY FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE

Last summer’s duelling crises — COVID-19 and the racial reckoning spurred by the killing of George Floyd — activated Cat Robinson’s life. Those global events sparked her to pick up her phone, log onto Instagram and raise funds for Black women in need.

“I was trying to get Black women and fems money,” Robinson said. “They keep killing us. What the hell? Can we at least get some money?”

Students Join Greencastle Residents In Rally For Black Lives →

On Saturday, a crowd gathered on the lawn of Putnam County Courthouse for another week of Black Lives Matter rally. However this week, it started with some battery issues in the megaphone that hadn’t been turned off since last week. A trip to Dollar General and a four pack of AAA batteries later, the chants began.

Protest On the Square: Greencastle Residents Continue Weekly Rallies For Black Lives →

As the 11 a.m. bell rang from the Putnam county courthouse, Greencastle residents gathered on the lawn, as they have all summer, holding signs reading “Black lives matter,” and “End racism.” 

First there were four. Then throughout the next hour, about 20 mostly older, white protesters showed up holding signs and chanting.

While protests have been seen across the nation, often focusing on violent confrontations in large cities, Greencastle community members have found their own steady voice.