COVID & Everything That Comes With It
Written By Angelica Spraggins
4 minute read
On January 20, 2020 the CDC confirmed the first U.S. laboratory case of COVID-19 in the U.S from a sample taken in Washington State. As we move into 2021, with only a few weeks away, we have been caught in one of the worst worldwide pandemics of most of our lifetimes. Some of us have experienced the virus ourselves, while others have watched family, friends and co-workers face COVID-19 head on.
As of today, there has been almost 5.2 million worldwide deaths from COVID and its related symptoms and nearly 812K deaths in the United States alone. Through much of the unknown we took a break. The world stopped temporarily only to open up to more uncertainty than many are able to take in all at once. After being diagnosed with COVID-19 along with my wife this completely changed the meaning of the words community, life and liberty. I sit here 1 week out of recovering from co-vid and I wonder if the world has changed as much as I have. I have taken a hard look at my work, family and the autonomy of my body and health. I view work with less stress, understanding that at any moment I could no longer be here. I view my family as more a necessity as they walked me through some of the scariest days of my life while fighting this virus. And finally I view my body as the only claim I have in this world. To many that may seem insignificant but I say this as a descendent of the African Slaves brought to this land over 400 years ago. I say this for the millions of slaves that have had no say over their bodies or minds. They were faced with death when they even attempted to have autonomy.
COVID and everything that it has brought with it, masks, vaccinations, quarantining and social distancing has placed us in a new time and space. It has created a new world that we must not only learn but accept. With this new world we must all recognize that there is a “new normal”. There’s a new path that this virus has carved out for us. If we face this new path with new resolve and an ability to comfort one another and adapt as a community we may leave this virus behind with an improved society. If we choose to seek the past we have come to know we may never overcome the Virus of the century. I ask all of us whether vaccinated or unvaccinated, believer or non-believer to look at your circle and community. We will only make it through this if we learn to have compassion for one another, be more gentle in relationships and have more understanding of our differences. We need to practice flexibility in the way we move and the adventures that we choose to take and finally we need to come together to heal our broken communities. These things are universal. Each of these things were relevant before the virus and remain relevant as we face some of the darkest days of COVID.
Regardless of our stand or understanding of COVID, one thing is clear to me; we will only survive as a human race, Black race, community and collective if we work towards the future and release the expectations of the past. Stay safe in this new world we have been given, wear your masks, wash your hands, social distance and get vaccinated , if that is your choice. Remember we all have one life to live; COVID is a sudden and painful reminder of that harsh Truth.
Much Love, Peace and Respect
Angelica J Spraggins
Sources for the historical account:
Https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/us/
Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. Https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
