Why the tension over face masks runs deeper than politics

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.

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