Reason N raised to the nth degree why government endorsed epistemic racism is always bad.

From Highlighting COVID-19 racial disparities can reduce support for safety precautions among White U.S. residents by Allison L. Skinner-Dorkenoo, Apoorva Sarmal, Kasheena G. Rogbeer, Chloe J.André, Bhumi Patel, and Leah Cha.  From the Abstract.

U.S. media has extensively covered racial disparities in COVID-19 infections and deaths, which may ironically reduce public concern about COVID-19. In two preregistered studies (conducted in the fall of 2020), we examined whether perceptions of COVID-19 racial disparities predict White U.S. residents’ attitudes toward COVID-19. Utilizing a correlational design (N = 498), we found that those who perceived COVID-19 racial disparities to be greater reported reduced fear of COVID-19, which predicted reduced support for COVID-19 safety precautions. In Study 2, we manipulated exposure to information about COVID-19 racial disparities (N = 1,505). Reading about the persistent inequalities that produced COVID-19 racial disparities reduced fear of COVID-19, empathy for those vulnerable to COVID-19, and support for safety precautions. These findings suggest that publicizing racial health disparities has the potential to create a vicious cycle wherein raising awareness reduces support for the very policies that could protect public health and reduce disparities.

Reason N raised to the nth degree why government endorsed epistemic racism is always bad.