Here's What Happened When I Told Congress The Black And Ugly Truth About Long COVID

Had it been any day before March 22, 2020, I probably would have said something more intricate and pristine. Long COVID had destroyed and devastated my life with such ferocity that I didn’t have the energy to play “politics.” Creating a reputation as one of the few Black female patient-led advocates before the hearing, I made the difficult decision early to break every rule I learned about making white people feel good. “As we made new discoveries on long COVID last May, the national media tended to do what they always do — put white, affluent women at the forefront of news stories.” I didn’t want these officials to be fooled — I didn’t wear my favorite dress and pearls to impress them. How much so remains to be seen as America’s most trusted and cited health agency prepares for one of its greatest challenges yet — providing safe, equitable and timely health information to all long COVID patients and their health care teams. Since June 2020, she has used her involvement in grassroots long COVID support groups and strong media presence to educate the public on the importance of including Black people in Long COVID research and treatment.