Over the past few months, the mask-wearing in public has become the norm. In some states, it’s even required. But for Black Americans, and the young men in Black-the particular — wearing the mask can feel like a catch-22. Public health experts say now masks are crucial for preventing the spread of the virus, which has disproportionately affected Black people. But putting on a mask can be an intense source of anxiety for many Black people, — particularly for Black men — who’s who worry that they’ll be harassed or profiled while they’re wearing one.
“Almost immediately after the mask-wearing became widespread, there were unimportant chatter reports of Black men being followed and asked to leave stores because they were wearing masks,” said ReNika Moore.the director of the ACLU”s Racial Justice Program.
A new study underscores just how widespread this kind of profiling could be. Researchers at the University of North Carolina at chapel hill found that in a survey or experimentnon-Black respondents who scored high in racial resentment — a measure that’s designed to assess negative attitudes toward people of color — were much likelier to perceive a young Black man, the threatening or untrustworthy if he was wearing a homemade mask or a bandanna, compar