During the recent One World: Together at Home virtual-concert event, which Lady Gaga organized to raise money for the World Health Organization (WHO), Beyoncé warned the public about COVID-19’s disproportionate impact on the African American community.
Beyoncé offered the statement during a roughly 90-second-long clip, which she opened by thanking doctors and medical professionals for their invaluable services amid the coronavirus crisis. She also thanked essential workers (including sanitation employees and mail carriers) for their societal contributions.
Then, Beyoncé indicated that “black Americans disproportionately belong to these essential parts of the workforce that do not have the luxury of working from home.” She also stated that black communities have been “severely affected” by the COVID-19 crisis, before saying, “This virus is killing black people at an alarmingly high rate.”
Finally, Beyoncé closed the clip by disclosing novel coronavirus statistics from her hometown of Houston, Texas. According to a report, African Americans account for 57 percent of total novel coronavirus deaths, despite comprising approximately 23 percent of the population.
Evidently, the 38-year-old singer-songwriter put much thought and planning into the clip’s recording process. Wearing professional-looking makeup and a carefully selected outfit, she delivered the pre-written message from some high-up point, with a gorgeous skyline and treetops in the background. The vast majority of other One World participants recorded their videos from inside the house.
Earlier this month, Sean “Diddy” Combs moderated a town hall forum that explored COVID-19’s disproportionate impact on the black community. And last week, Beyoncé’s husband, Jay-Z, made headlines after donating to coronavirus relief and subsequently furloughing his own employees.
Together at Home took place on April 18th. The live television broadcast was preceded by a six-hour pre-concert event, which livestreamed on YouTube. Celebrities including Jack Black, Matthew McConaughey, Rainn Wilson, and Idris Elba were among the many who participated in the charitable effort. Plus, The Killers, Ellie Goulding, Jennifer Hudson, Elton John, Paul McCartney, Taylor Swift, and numerous other prominent artists sent in specially recorded performances.
To date, medical professionals have diagnosed over 2.5 million worldwide COVID-19 cases, some 802,000 of which are attributable to the United States. Today, the FDA authorized the first at-home test kit for the novel coronavirus.
Read the full transcript of Beyoncé’s One World: Together at Home clip here:
“Tonight, we celebrate true heroes: Those who are making the ultimate sacrifice to keep us all safe, fed, and healthy. To the doctors, the nurses, and other healthcare workers who are away from their families taking care of ours, we continue to pray for your safety.
To those in the food industry, delivery workers, mail carriers, and sanitation employees, who are working so that we can be safe in our homes, we thank you for your selfless service.
Black Americans disproportionately belong to these essential parts of the workforce that do not have the luxury of working from home. And African American communities at large have been severely affected in this crisis. Those with preexisting conditions are at an even higher risk. This virus is killing black people at an alarmingly high rate here in America.
A recent report from my home city, Houston, Texas, it showed that COVID-19 deaths within Houston city limits, 57 percent of fatal cases are African American. Please protect yourselves; we are one family. We need you. We need your voices, your abilities, and your strength all over this world.
I know it’s very hard, but please be patient, stay encouraged, keep the faith, stay positive, and continue to pray for our heroes. Goodnight and God bless you.”
Awesome!