Surgeon General Criticized for Calling On African Americans To Take Care of “Big Momma” and “Pop Pop”

Surgeon General Jerome Adams has come under fire for using what has been described as offensive and pandering language while offering coronavirus advice to African Americans, the NY Post reports.

Adams, during a news briefing, warned black Americans to stop drinking, smoking or doing drugs for their “big momma” and “pop-pop” as the community has suffered a disproportionately high number of virus-related deaths.

“We need you to do this if not for yourself than for your abuela. Do it for your granddaddy, do it for your big momma, do it for your pop-pop,” the nation’s top doctor said, urging the African Americans to “step up.”

Adams was criticized both for his word choice but also for advice suggesting that African Americans’ own behavior was to blame for COVID-19’s impact.

“He said that Black and brown people need to “step up” and avoid alcohol and drugs during #COVID19,” tweeted writer Fredrick Joseph. “Further perpetuating false narratives about our communities. America will always try to blame people of color.”

Read more at the NY Post.

{Matzav.com}