Eyeing One World, Two Pandemics
New Book Offer An Uncommon Look at the Covid and Racism Viruses
“The Rona Diaries. One World. Two Pandemics” a new book by award-winning author and Pushcart Prize nominee Jeffrey Kass was recently released on October 24, 2020. Chronicling his personal reflections on the two colliding forces of Covid-19 and racism, he engages readers with daily musings, humor, and deep insights during this unprecedented time in our global history.
Says acclaimed political activist and Harvard University professor Dr. Cornel West about the book:
“This wise and witty book reminds us of the intimate connection between genuine humor and real solidarity in our struggles against evils like racism and for the good such as justice and joy! In this age of catastrophe, we are all needful of “The Rona Diaries.”
Jeffrey is also the author of “Oreos and a Pack of Marlboro Lights,” a collection of lightly fictionalized true stories, essays, and even a poem covering a wide variety of subjects including race, religion, relationships, and coming of age matters. He also writes the widely popular “End Racial Distancing Journal,” which boasts a rapidly growing worldwide reader base.
Great Books, Great Minds recently had the opportunity to interview Jeffrey about the evolution of his new book as well what he hopes readers will walk away from it with:
What was the main contributing factor in your decision to write this book?
We are in unprecedented times and are facing an unprecedented public health crisis. And while racism has been around for ages, it has reared its not forgotten ugly head like never before. I wanted this book to delve into these simultaneous challenges with a level of directness and intellectual honesty we often don’t get in today’s media. We’ve gotten away from common sense or research. Everyone is now an expert on everything.
Why are you the ideal person to deliver the book’s message?
I’ve been working, speaking, and writing on race issues since my college days. Over the past twenty-five, years I have fought tirelessly, through action, with pen (now keyboard) and through organizational involvement, to end the madness of racism in this country.
Describe what this year has been like for you personally amid the pandemic, racial protests, and the forthcoming election?
I’m a people person. So this year has been challenging just from a personal standpoint. I also have been distraught over how much nastiness and divide there are among people these days. No one seems to be taking the time to think, we are all just reacting. This has added a tremendous amount of stress on those of us fighting for racial justice and equity.
What are you discovering about yourself as well as life during these times?
I miss in-person engagement. But I think we’ve learned some beautiful and some ugly things about people during this period. It seems that many of us are spending more time with their kids. And reevaluating what’s important in life. We are also taking the time to read more and get to know ourselves better.
Are there things that concern you amid all of this?
The pandemic has had a profound impact on so many people resulting in a lot of anger. And a lot of selfishness. And of course depression. It wasn’t a half-century ago when young men were being sent off to Vietnam. Today, we’re just asking people to distance and wear a mask. Add in the widely disparate perceptions of race and increasing lack of serious attempts at empathy about others’ experiences and we have the perfect storm for division.
How do you believe the world will be most impacted by the increasing attention given to race?
In the short term, I expect the supporters and shouters of division to not go away so easily. Long term, I see a generation of young people who are unwilling to accept the ways of the past. They are fed up with racism, sexism, and other forms of xenophobia. This gives me hope that the attention given to these issues will lead to real change.
Any thoughts on what the new normal might look like?
The new normal? I can tell you what I hope and then the reality. The hope is we re-adjust our priorities and realize that our kids, kindness, helping others and our planet are all much more important than materialism and division. What I do fear is that we will retreat to our comfortable social lounge chairs when it’s safe again and quickly forget what COVID made us think about. I hope I’m wrong, and I certainly won’t accept the same old normal. I’m betting on the younger generations to change the way we think.
What is your greatest hope in terms of what readers will walk away from it with?
We are all experiencing the pressures of COVID and safety measures. So journaling through these times is really something for everyone to see. To make people laugh, but also to try to bring us back to common sense and perspective. It really is the same with race issues. The police murders, body cams off, knees and the like really impact not just Black and Brown people, but all of us. Don’t we all want a country that instead of burning to the ground is a bastion of hope and light? One where we all learn to respect and appreciate each other on a deeper level.
My hope is that those who read “The Rona Diaries” take the time to digest and challenge their preconceived notions so that they can walk away with fresh perspectives on the new world that’s emerging.
