The 1918 flu pandemic was a global health crisis that killed more than 50 million people worldwide, and more Americans than all 20th- and 21st-century wars combined.  "A Public Calamity" offers a snapshot view of Richmond, Virginia’s experience with the 1918 flu as Maggie L. Walker, an African American leader, successfully lobbied the governor to provide resources to African American patients, who segregationists resolved to treat in a windowless basement. 

View video, "A Public Calamity." Use the closed-captioning feature to read along with the script.

Use evidence from the video to answer the following questions:

• Crises often intensified race relations. What about the Pandemic of 1918 ignited already prevalent racial animosity? 
• How did the response from government officials and medical experts differ in the way white and Black patients were cared for during the 1918 Flu pandemic?
• What evidence do you see in the video to support your answer?
• What other barriers existed for Black residents of Richmond during the 1918 Flu pandemic?
• How did local African American leaders like Maggie L. Walker respond to these barriers?
• What parallels might you see between this historic event and more recent health crises in the United States, including the global COVID-19 pandemic?
• Who are the modern-era Maggie L. Walkers in your community, state, or country?