The Black Long Covid Experience
Empowering Black Americans
Affected with Long Covid.
In this video, Chimére, a Black woman with a short haircut, is explaining to viewers how they can purchase Holiday Posties — cute, funny, thoughtful, and lightweight postcards for Long Covid communities.
Posties are available in Holiday Red and Holiday Green! The link to purchase Posties is to the right in a Gingerbread color square-shaped button!
Holiday Posties are Here!
Funny. Cute. Thoughtful. Perfect for Everyone You Love Living with Long Covid!
Available Now!
Get You Some Clarity about Owning Your Blackness in Long Covid and ME/CFS Organizations!
Photo Courtesy: Chimére is advising Black people living with Long Covid to consider if Long Covid and/or ME/CFS organizations are invested in Blackness before they contribute to their donation fundraisers.
If you’re Black, have received donation requests from Long Covid and ME/CFS organizations, and are considering hitting the donation button, now is the time to ask yourself:
Do I feel truly represented by this organization on their websites, informationals, etc.?
Are there Black board members, division leaders, and staff that have been given a voice and power to lead campaigns and events — not just one person but at least two or more?
Have I been personally invited to join their organizations by various methods of communication (i.e. emails, social media, etc.)?
Am I able to safely integrate into these organizations with their acknowledgment of Black heritage, history, and culture in relationship to science and medicine?
Can I rely on these organizations to accommodate my one-time financial support request to purchase medications or essential items?
Are my skills and talents being utilized in a diversity-conscious and healthy manner? Or am I just serving in an empty role to fill a race and ethnicity requirement?
What are the organizations’ responses when I inquire about the inclusion (or exclusion) of Black participants in Long Covid and ME/CFS meetings and events?
Innovation…Where?!
The Recent Keystone Symposia’s Meeting,
Long COVID and Other Post-Acute Infection Syndromes,
was Not Innovative or Racially Diverse.
“Keystone Symposia is dedicated to supporting all generations of research leaders, including through scholarships, travel awards and career-development opportunities for students and post-doctoral fellows who comprise approximately 40% of meeting attendees. The Program Enrichment portfolio additionally enhances each scientific conference through programming designed to build professional skillsets, showcase innovative scientific viewpoints and perspectives, and support the life-science workforce across all levels.”
in·no·vate (verb) — make changes in something established, especially by introducing new methods, ideas, or products.
The recent Long Covid and Other Post-Acute Infection Syndromes meeting in New Mexico failed to include racial diversity — specifically Black Long Covid experts — at their event in early August and offer amenable and affordable options for the chronic illness and disabled communities. While Hannah Davis, one of the meeting’s Scientific Organizers, relayed that this event was primarily one focused on academia, there was no clear explanation why there were not many Black physicians, patients, or organizers in attendance at an event that deems innovative scientific research an important mission. This also does not clarify why only familiar Long Covid experts who helped introduce the severity and research of the Covid-19 and Long Covid in 2020 were invited to lead, organize, and speak at a meeting during a time when racial diversity and healthcare equity is as dire in science and medicine as ever.
This meeting was not innovative; it was clinically lazy, racially and ethnically tone deaf, and riddled with an exclusive familiarity that is not conducive to new paths of Long Covid treatment. As long as the Long Covid community continues to accept this type of behavior, lives will continue to be devastated and possibly lost.
Grief Can Affect Your Bout with Long Covid.
How, BLCE?
It has already been proven that Long Covid can cause severe mental health and psychological issues including depression, anxiety, sleeplessness, fatigue, PTSD, panic attacks and more.
But experiencing the failing health and/or death of a loved one can also exacerbate these and other symptoms.
Read BLCE Founder, Chimére L. Sweeney’s first-hand account of this in her recent Substack post:
What Tamara Said, as she shares the loss of her Auntie Dee.
Acknowledgment of the Passing of
Decarol Smith
Thank you for your outpouring of love and care in the loss of my precious Auntie Dee.
For two years, she bravely fought stage four uterine cancer. I’ve never seen a more dedicated soldier in the cancer fight than her.
Sadly, about eight weeks ago, she began to decline. She slept a lot, lost her fine motor skills, and barely talked.
The last time I saw Auntie Dee, she slept the entire time. I could tell she knew I was there because her body jumped at the sound of my voice. My world feels smaller and emptier without her on the Earth. She was an Aunt’s Aunt: cool as hell, smart, loving, and kind. Every single one os us deserves an Aunt Decarol.
Thank you again. Please continue to screen regularly to detect cancer or any chronic illnesses early. Keep my family in your prayers and loving thoughts.
Love, Chimére
A Great Look: NBC NEWS NOW
Showcased the
Black Long Covid Experience!
Long Covid…
FIVE YEARS LATER.
Watch
Chimére on
NBC News NOW on Hallie Jackson NOW.
Photo Courtesy: miodrag ignjatovic, 2025
A health professional is filling out paperwork for a patient with red nails who is submitting a health insurance card.
Call Your City Council, Congressional, and Senate Leaders to Ask Them to Consider What Will Happen if You are Unable to Access Healthcare and/or Disability Benefits.
Happy Black History Month!
We Celebrate and Honor Black Communities with Long Covid.
The Black Long Covid Community is Black History!
Join BLCE from
Monday, February 10 through Monday, February 24
as we honor and observe
Black History Month, the annual celebration of Black culture, achievement, and community.
There will be 10 days of activities. Please feel free to share these with your social media networks.
Instructions are here.
Impulsive, Uncontrollable Outbursts are REAL!
Long Covid causes brain damage or #neurospicy behavior that may be similar to having a stroke or a traumatic brain injury (TBI). It may change the composition of the brain.
When this happens, we can experience impulsive, uncontrollable emotional and verbal outbursts.
While neurospicy is a trendy name and label, it is so important that Black people with Long Covid seek mental health support from a professional who treats patients with brain damage and psychological issues due to a viral condition, like Long Covid.
Photo Courtesy: Chimére L. Sweeney, 2024
Chimére, Director of The Black Long Covid Experience, shares examples of her neurospicy brain damage from her Covid-19 infection in March 2020 that causes her verbal outbursts
She is a Black woman with a faded short haircut with a dark pink tank top and brown-rimmed glasses.
Introducing Long Covid Posties —
Postcards to Send to Your Long Covid Tribe!
“This is our national truth: America would not be America without the wealth from Black labor, without Black striving, Black ingenuity, Black resistance.”
Photo Courtesy: LaylaBird, 2020
A Black woman with a white sweater and a black and orange head wrap. She is smiling with her hands clasp together to signal joy or happiness in front of a laptop .
It’s About Time!
Welcome to The Black Long Covid Experience (or BLCE): a trusted space offering Long Covid information, resources, and support for you and your loved ones.
We are also a compassionate consulting business dedicated to educating the public on the implications of Black Americans with Long Covid and empowering Black communities to advocate for consistent health outcomes.
Photo Courtesy: Washington Post Live, 2024
Chimére is a Black woman wearing a black face mask, denim light blue dress with a gold necklace and short haircut, sitting in the middle between another Black woman and Latina woman.
Trusted. Consistent. Competent.
As a disabled activist and Director of The Black Long Covid Experience, Chimére L. Sweeney draws from her own journey with Long Covid, advocating for equitable medical care and policy change. As a retired Maryland teacher, she deeply connects with Black urban communities and understands their distinct health needs.
Photo Courtesy of Niphon, 2021
Description: a white Long Covid sign with the
light teal Covid-19 graphic and an iridescent background.
Comprehensive Education that Will Help Define Long Covid for Black Communities.
We believe the first step to receiving comprehensive Long Covid care is collaborating to help you define the condition for yourself —and share that understanding with those you care about. Once you grasp how it affects you, you'll be empowered to advocate for and access the right medical care.
Photo Courtesy, SDI Productions, 2020
A masked Black adult male aids a Black young boy in putting on his mask.
Support for Communities.
Long Covid can be frustrating and lonely. At BLCE, we are committed to planning virtual events that are inclusive, educational, and honor your experiences and time. Our goal is to provide pathways to friendships, income, and comprehensive medical care
We Would Love to Hear from You!
Say hello. Or book us for a service or educational course.
We’re here for you.
Please allow 24-48 hours to receive a response.
