Being Black in Brazil in the time of pandemic

Living as a person of colour in a country struggling with racism and inequality is always a risky business, but stakes are even higher during a pandemic.

These days, I get a knot in my stomach every time I reach out to one of my friends. I dread calling or texting them because I know that if they do not answer, they may well be dead. I do not work in a high-risk industry, or live in a war zone, but my fears about the wellbeing of those closest to me are not irrational or baseless. I am a Black man living in Brazil, and many of my friends are also Black.