Navigating the “Dual Pandemics”: The Cumulative Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic and Rise in Awareness of Racial Injustices among High School Students of Color in Urban Schools

• Published in: Urban education (Beverly Hills, Calif.) Vol. 59; no. 8; pp. 2365 - 2394
• Main Authors: Yeh, Christine Jean, Stanley, Samantha, Ramirez, Crystal A., Borrero, Noah E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.10.2024; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Consciousness; Coping; Coping strategies; COVID-19; Distance Education; Distance learning; Emotional Response; Emotions; Ethnic identity; Minority Group Students; Original; Pandemics; Racial Discrimination; Racial justice; Secondary school students; Social isolation; Urban areas; Urban schools; Social; Pandemics; Covid-19; Adolescent; School Counselors; Racial injustice; Urban Education; Racism; Subjects
• ISSN: 0042-0859; 1552-8340
• DOI: 10.1177/00420859221097884

We explored the psychological and educational impact of distance learning during the COVID-19 and racial injustice pandemics. The sample included 19 urban high school students of Color from the San Francisco Bay Area. Interview data were analyzed using Reflexive Thematic Analysis revealing seven themes: (1) challenges learning from home; (2) shifts that impact students’ experience with school; (3) emotions emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic; (4) increased awareness and engagement related to racial injustices; (5) emotional reactions to the rise in awareness to racial injustices; (6) shifts in identity due to social isolation; and (7) coping strategies and support needed.