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Society

Racism, pandemic and joblessness ignite American powder keg

Underlying disparities drive violent protests, threatening economic recovery

Protesters rally against the death of George Floyd in front of the White House in Washington on Sunday. (Photo by Takeshi Kawanami)

WASHINGTON/NEW YORK -- Black people have died from the coronavirus at double the rate of their white counterparts, and their 16% unemployment rate is running much higher than the rest of the population. 

Those underlying social and economic disparities are adding to the anger of protesters railing against the killing of George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, by a white police officer in Minneapolis, the biggest city in the state of Minnesota.

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