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HEALTH
How High Grocery Bills Place Unique Burden On Black Families
Systemic racism acts as a pre-existing condition
When America gets the flu, Black folks catch pneumonia. It's an old adage, but what it means is that racism acts as a pre-existing condition in this country. Generations of discrimination have placed the Black families of today at an inherent disadvantage. Consider, for instance, the racial wealth gap — that the typical White family has "nearly eight times the wealth" as a typical Black family. This disparity is the legacy of chattel slavery and Jim Crow. So, whenever the nation endures economic hardship, Black families carry this unique burden. For many White and affluent people, the rising cost of eggs and other goods is a mere inconvenience—an unfortunate but manageable change to their budget. But for Black people in low-income communities, increased food costs impact access. This is a key distinction.
According to the U.S. Agricultural Department, "the price of eggs could jump 41% this year." This marks a significant increase in a short period of time. And signals to consumers that prices will continue to rise. The average 12-egg carton is $4.95 nationwide, though in some cases, consumers pay "over $12 a dozen." Some restaurants, such as Waffle House and Denny's, added surcharges for egg dishes…
