Grandparents are suffering and going through difficult times during these unprecedented conditions in the world. Not only is the pandemic negatively affecting grandparents over the age of sixty-five and/or with pre-existing medical conditions, but now protests over racism have them concerned as their grandchildren participate in peaceful protests.
When the Covid-19 virus began to become a big problem in the United States, it was claimed that older people were at higher risk. Although the coronavirus has affected some young people, the oldest in the population remain the most vulnerable. One wonders how the virus got into nursing homes and nursing homes, but those facilities appear to have been hit hard.
People have been dying with only medical staff around them in nursing homes and hospitals as they have been restricted from receiving visitors. Although some of the older patients who were lost to the virus may have been ready to leave this life, it is sad to realize that they were unable to see their family and friends in their last days on earth.
With states trying to return to normal and ease restrictions, social distancing has been difficult to maintain, especially with the protests that erupted after the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer. There are few grandparents among the protesting crowds, but grandparents have to worry about their grandchildren who are involved in the fight for black justice.
Whites and youth have overwhelmingly become supporters of the Black Lives Matter movement and the fight against racism. Large crowds are a concern for people worried about the spread of the coronavirus. Grandparents share that concern.
During World War II, Japanese Americans and immigrants from Japan were unjustly evicted from their West Coast homes. Most of them lost almost everything they owned, including their freedom, as they were imprisoned in camps. Two-thirds of them were US citizens. There were some grandparents in the group. They thought the Constitution would protect their children and grandchildren who were US citizens. That was not going to be the case, as racism and hate got these innocent people wrongfully imprisoned.
People can be grandparents when they are relatively young. For those grandparents who are older, they realize that the end could be near. Their concern is not so much for themselves, but for their grandchildren. Some who have a genuine concern for others in society are trying to help erase racism.
Grandparents may be having a tough time right now, but most are probably proud of their children and grandchildren for their efforts to make America a fairer and more just country.