George Floyd, hourly workers, and Swarthmore
Dear Editor,
George Floyd’s death has brought racial intolerance and violence to the forefront of American attention, again. His death has ignited a national conversation on structural violence and racism. It should also ignite controversy over another issue that contributed to his vulnerability: his employment status. Floyd was a bouncer who was unable to work during the pandemic. He allegedly tried to pay at a grocery store using counterfeit money, and for that, if he did it, he lost his life.
Thinking about the casual workers who come into Swarthmore every single day, I can’t help but wonder: What is keeping them afloat during the pandemic? Do the service staff at the Inn, or the hourly workers at any of Swarthmore’s small businesses, have health insurance? Are they being paid a living wage? I personally try to prioritize supporting small businesses in Swarthmore and Media, but are they prioritizing their employees?
What happened to Floyd could happen in Swarthmore, Wallingford, or anywhere in Delaware County. The casual workers who work in town serve the community tirelessly. Who is serving them?
Parisa Zangeneh
Galway, Ireland (formerly of Wallingford)