The death of famed boxer Marvin Hagler sparked conversations on hesitancy around the COVID-19 vaccine, especially within Black communities.

For Black people living in America, trust towards the medical industry is scarce due to medical racism which included non-consensual experimentation on Black bodies and the belief that Black people have higher propensity towards pain.

Hagler died on March 13 to the shock of his fans and supporters. However, it was the lack of information around his cause of death that opened the door for speculation. Hagler’s wife initially stated that Hagler, “passed away unexpectedly” in the couple’s New Hampshire home. But one of Hagler’s boxing contemporaries, Thomas Hearns, riled up more speculation after posting an Instagram message where he claimed Hagler was hospitalized from COVID-19 vaccine complications.

The unfounded statement along with the online conversations probably inspired Hagler’s widow, Kay recently made a public statement on Hagler’s Facebook fan page, in an effort to clear up any misconceptions.

But because of history and the lag in rectifying or even acknowledging the gruesome and oftentimes deadly experimentation on Black people in America, uncertainty lingers in Black communities around the COVID-19 vaccine.

Im proper gutted!! the Great Marvin Hagler dies after taking the vaccine!
Please do your own research before making a decision on putting something in your body that has not been tested properly & we r being used as the guinea pigs & not told the #Truth about #vaccine pic.twitter.com/5PQdJGU9sI

— Dr Mark Prince OBE (@MarkPrinceOBE) March 14, 2021

I wanted to share what Tommy Hearns posted hours prior to the death of Marvin Hagler. I’m noticing articles aren’t including this. Maybe because it’ll impact their Covid vaccine agenda that they’re pushing…especially to the Black community pic.twitter.com/SnAYzQVO6o

— L. Muhammad, MBA (@B1ack_Woman) March 14, 2021

1st time I have noticed the MSM reporting on a suspected vaccine death. Daily Mail reporting that Marvin Hagler died after suffering side effects of the Covid-19 vaccine.https://t.co/hwJOWoVKTN pic.twitter.com/ezZ2XUvcUa

— Sandra Weeden (@SandraWeeden) March 14, 2021

However, according to the CDC no evidence shows that COVID-19 vaccines directly contributed to patient deaths. “Over 92 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines were administered in the United States from December 14, 2020, through March 8, 2021,” according to the CDC. “During this time, VAERS received 1,637 reports of death (0.0018%) among people who received a COVID-19 vaccine. CDC and FDA physicians review each case report of death as soon as notified and CDC requests medical records to further assess reports.”

Several high-profile Black figures have documented and publicized themselves receiving a COVID-19 vaccine, including Spike Lee, Vice President Kamala Harris, and most recently Forever FLOTUS, Michelle Obama.

When you can get the COVID-19 vaccine, I hope you do—Barack and I are certainly glad we did. It’s our best shot at beating this virus, looking out for one another, and getting back to some of the things we miss. Getting vaccinated will save lives—and that life could be yours. pic.twitter.com/3VlwJbQqvu

— Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) March 11, 2021

 

Prior to the FDA’s approval of the Pfizer vaccine in December, a group of Black doctors called the Black Coalition Against COVID, released a video encouraging Black community members to engage in conversation around their vaccine concerns.

A conversation around the Black community’s distrust over the vaccine should continue so that medical experts can fight to break down the walls and barriers placed due to over 400 years of systemic racism, which affects quality of life for Black people at every level.

SEE ALSO:

Marvin Hagler’s Wife Says It ‘Wasn’t The Vaccine That Caused His Death’

Thomas Hearns Says Marvin Hagler Was ‘In ICU Fighting The After Effects Of The Vaccine’

[ione_media_gallery id=”4105299″ overlay=”true”]