The Pandemic

December 15, 2025

Share this article

The Pandemic

The Pandemic by Cieraa T Knighten

There’s a pandemic going on

And I am not just talking about COVID-19 I am referring to the one that has been going on for more than 400 years. Racism has been a disease , for not just Americans, but for the entire world. Now, you may be saying I am so tired of hearing about racism ! Well, me too, but I dont have the luxury of just turning off the television or ignoring a blog postI live it every day.

Do you know what it feels like to be afraid to apply for a professional job because you are apprehensive that they would not hire you due to the color of your skin? NoWell, I have. I was extremely nervous about applying to be the new receptionist for BurnettDriskill. Its a disability law firm and being a receptionist, you are the first person people see and speak with.

Being black , you often are told you have to have your hair in a professional, neat or tamed way to work in an office setting. Nothing about my hair is tamed or neat. I have thick curly hair but I decided to wear my hair into small locs (which some may refer to as dreadlocks). Plus, I have dark skin; I dont look like the normal fair-skinned woman you normally think about at a receptionist desk. In my mind, I thought What if I dont get hired because I am black?  Its sad but true. Luckily, they did not view me as just a black woman. They viewed me as a woman who is hardworking and motivated to work. I absolutely love working for BurnettDriskill.

Unfortunately, worrying about if we can get a job or not is the LEAST of our worries.

Every day we are faced with adversities and fears because of our history and what we see on the news every single day. We worry about fitting the description. We worry if jogging in a nice neighborhood would be suspicious (Ahmaud Arbery). We worry about driving (Philando Castile and Sandra Bland). We worry about sitting in our living room eating ice cream (Botham Jean) or (Breonna Taylor) sleeping in bed.  We worry about getting put down like animals by police officers (George Floyd).

Whether the world would like to acknowledge it or not, we know that white supremacy is real and that racism still exists. It hurts to know that some white people think we are overdoing things and that we are over exaggerating. Honestly, thats what we have been told many times over. But I am here to say I STAND WITH EVERY PROTESTOR. We are tired. We are tired of seeing #(Black Person Name). We are tired of not seeing justice for our black people who have been victims of police brutality. We are tired of being seen as less than when in reality we had played a major role in this country. We are tired of being racially profiled.

That is why we march .

That is why we protest .

That is why we are rightfully angry.

We have been underdogs since we were human trafficked over here. Now, we are standing together to change the world with unity. Whats different about this protest than prior ones? The entire world is protesting with uspeople of all colors are starting to see the real issues. We are organized and peaceful.  There are businesses that are standing with uslike BurnettDriskill. There are cases that were closed that are being reopened that had racial motives. The protesting is working and we cant stop until #BlackLivesMatter . We cant stop until the police change how they detain suspects. We cant stop until we have the same rights as white people. WE. CANT. STOP.

You and each of you are important deserving of respect and fairness. It is a privilege to serve and represent persons in need of help. We share the heart of Ms. Knighten in our efforts to secure justice for all.

Roger M. Driskill, Attorney

Recent Posts

December 15, 2025
Applying for Social Security Disability can be a long and frustrating process. As part of that process, you may need to go through a consultative exam , which helps to establish the extent of your disability. What is a consultative exam, and what can you expect from that process? Make sure you are prepared by consulting with a member of our legal team.
December 15, 2025
If you are receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) payments, it is likely that you have faced many challenges, and these may have directly affected your financial situation. Once financial hardship takes hold, it can be challenging to regain control, and you may have creditors expecting repayment. Some creditors may even use ugly tactics, one of which is the threat of garnishment.
December 15, 2025
It i s important for disabled entrepreneurs who receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) to understand how deducting impairment-related work expenses can affect SSDI calculations. These deductible expenses may reduce your countable earnings, helping you maintain eligibility for SSDI benefits while continuing to work.
Doctor in white coat, pushing patient in wheelchair down hospital hallway.
December 15, 2025
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is a benefit you earn based on your work history and contributions to Social Security throughout your career. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a needs-based program for individuals with limited financial resources, whose work history is not necessarily a determining factor for eligibility.
Business meeting: three people looking at red laptop.
December 15, 2025
If you are approaching retirement, you might be wondering how much you will receive in Social Security benefits. Your level of benefits will depend on how much you worked and earned in your career, calculated as average indexed monthly earnings (AIME).
December 15, 2025
Why Does the ALJ Want to Know That?    ALJ wants to know The process can get confusing. We’re here to sort it out with you. To start with, let’s look at a common question we get: Why does the ALJ want to know that? Chores  Pets  Social activities  Grocery shopping  Who you live with  Drugs/etc  Why Did the ALJ Ask Me That?  Some questions in your Social Security disability judge make sense. They will often ask about your previous work, your physical limitations, and why you feel you cant work.  But your attorney and the judge will ask other questions about your personal life, such as your social activities and the chores you do around the house. Why do they ask that?  The short answer is that the judge does not have current, full-time job performance to evaluate. He or she often determine whether you can perform a job using other clues about your abilities from your life. Here are a few examples.  Household Chores  The household tasks you can and cant do may be very informative for a Social Security judge. If you tell the judge you cant stand for long periods, but that you have no problem vacuuming the house, the judge may see that as evidence that you are more able.  Pets  You may no think that having a pet makes a big difference to your disability claim. However, if your attorney asks you about it theres a good reason. You may be able to let your dog out, but not be able to take her for a walk. You may be able to feed your cat, but not clean a litter box. These can illustrate your condition better than you think.  Living Arrangements  Do you live with a partner who assists you? Or maybe you have children or elders living with you that you     
December 15, 2025
Many employers offer benefits in addition to wages. Besides health, dental, life, and accident insurance, some employers also offer short-term and long-term disability insurance . This insurance is designed to replace some of your regular income in the event you become unable to continue performing your job due to health reasons. Short-term disability insurance is designed to replace your income in the short term usually around six months. Long-term disability insurance is designed to replace your income over the long term. Ideally, it will pay benefits until you reach your retirement age.
December 15, 2025
COVID-19 has thrown a wrench in our way of life. Not only has it affected our personal and business lives, but it has also changed the way that medical professionals work. Many visits are now done via telemedicine and telehealth, either through video or phone call. Although this is safer and more convenient, it presents some challenges in disability claims.
Show More