TrueStar Staff 
In a local initiative to stop the spread of COVID-19 in the Black community, State Rep. La Shawn Ford is collaborating with Grammy-nominated rapper Twista and Creative Salon by providing Chicago’s Black community with masks. With African Americans representing over 70 percent of COVID-19 deaths in Chicago, while only making up a third of the city’s population, this is a serious issue.
“The Black community is having issues getting supplies,” Ford said in a statement. “I am already seeing businesses posting signs that say they are not allowing people in their stores without face masks.” Ford added, “Black men are taking charge to ensure we are taking care of our communities. We intend to get masks out to those that don’t have access to them in the Black communities. We are coming together to do the right thing and save lives.”
If you must leave your home, wear a mask or cloth face covering. Let’s protect each other! #AllInIllinois #MaskUpAndLive😷🚫🦠 pic.twitter.com/yyJ6oqttrv
— IDPH (@IDPH) April 17, 2020
The campaign has launched a website, www.MASKUPANDLIVE.org, their initiative to inform Chicago’s Black communities about the virus, provide masks to their citizens through donations, and encourage citizens to wear a mask by participating in the #maskupandlive challenge where people are asked to post selfies of themselves wearing their masks and using this hashtag.
#WILLIEWILSON GIVES 1MILLION TO #CHICAGO #MASKUPANDLIVE https://t.co/DiADGqP38i pic.twitter.com/sjR1IEupqs
— Anthony Jones (@Anthony47819893) April 28, 2020
The ultimate goal is to not only get masks to Black communities but to make it trendy and cool to wear one too. What cold be more trendy that staying alive and living a health life? For more information or to support the campaign’s goal to give away one million masks nationally, email [email protected].
By Amaris Edwards, Senior, Brooks College Prep
Instagram: glamaris._
