When I saw the data showing people of color disproportionately dying of COVID-19 in Chicago, I wasn’t surprised—I was furious. As of May 21, more than 1,800 Chicagoans have lost their lives to the coronavirus. Nearly half are African American, who make up 29 percent of the city’s population. South Shore, a historically African American community, has the highest COVID-19 death rate in the city, with 15 deaths per 10,000 residents. Latinos have also been hit hard. They have the most confirmed cases in Illinois, though they comprise less than a fifth of the state’s population.

These aren’t just numbers; they’re lives. People are losing loved ones to a virus that’s hitting communities of color harder. And