Though the CDC now recommends everyone wear a cloth mask in public, it has changed its stance in the past. Hosts Mina Kim of KQED in San Francisco and Marty Moss-Coane of WHYY in Philadelphia peel back the complicated layers to the act of wearing a face mask. It's become a divisive political issue, leading to protests and complaints from residents who don’t want to wear them. For others, it’s a matter of personal safety that has nothing to do with health. Will black men be stereotyped for wearing a mask? Now that more businesses are reopening, what’s on people’s minds about face masks? And how do we navigate tense situations? Our guests include: Seema Yasmin,  public health doctor and epidemiologist, director of the Stanford Health Communication Initiative University, and an Emmy-award winning journalist; Will Joyce, mayor of Stillwater, Oklahoma, whose city reopened with a plan that included a strong recommendation for masks, requiring employees and customers to wear masks; and Chris Norris, journalist and professional drummer, currently serving as WHYY’s Community Contributor and Engagement Editor.

Though the CDC now recommends everyone wear a cloth mask in public, it has changed its stance in the past.&nbsp;Hosts Mina Kim of KQED in San Francisco and Marty Moss-Coane of WHYY in Philadelphia peel back the complicated layers to the act of wearing a face mask. It's become a divisive political issue, leading to protests and complaints from residents who don’t want to wear them. For others, it’s a matter of personal safety that has nothing to do with health. Will black men be stereotyped for wearing a mask? Now that more businesses are reopening, what’s on people’s minds about face masks? And how do we navigate tense situations? Our guests include: Seema Yasmin, &nbsp;public health doctor and epidemiologist, director of the Stanford Health Communication Initiative University, and an Emmy-award winning journalist; Will Joyce, mayor of Stillwater, Oklahoma, whose city reopened with a plan that included a strong recommendation for masks, requiring employees and customers to wear masks; and Chris Norris, journalist and professional drummer, currently serving as WHYY’s Community Contributor and Engagement Editor.

Public radio stations across the country team up each week and invite Americans to share their diverse experiences during the coronavirus pandemic. The call-in show provides insight into how communities are responding to this crisis and charting a new future.

Public radio stations across the country team up each week and invite Americans to share their diverse experiences during the coronavirus pandemic. The call-in show provides insight into how communities are responding to this crisis and charting a new future.

Advertisement