The Basics
APHA: Racism and Health
Racism structures opportunity and assigns value based on how a person looks. The result: conditions that unfairly advantage some and unfairly disadvantage others. Racism hurts the health of our nation by preventing some people the opportunity to attain their highest level of health. Racism may be intentional or unintentional. It operates at various levels in society. Racism is a driving force of the social determinants of health (like housing, education and employment) and is a barrier to health equity.
To achieve health equity and create the Healthiest Nation in One Generation, we must address injustices caused by racism. We must support actions at all levels to ensure equal opportunity for all.
Bad Medicine: The Harm that Comes from Racism:
This news article informs readers of how racial discrimination has shaped so many American institutions that perhaps it should be no surprise that health care is among them. Put simply, people of color receive less care — and often worse care — than white Americans. As part of “The 1619 Project,” Evelynn Hammonds, a historian of science at Harvard, told Jeneen Interlandi of The New York Times: “There has never been any period in American history where the health of blacks was equal to that of whites. Disparity is built into the system.”
What do terms like systemic racism, microaggression and white fragility mean?
This news article discusses why understanding these terms and their meanings is important, sociological and African American experts say, for anyone who hopes to be a meaningful ally in tackling racism.
Educate Yourself: Online Racial Equity Workshops:
Let's be better, together, by standing for an equitable society and with those fighting for justice for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). Use this time for learning, listening, engaging in the discourse, and doing better as individuals and as a country. Donate and/or join organizations fighting for racial equality, participate in protests or rallies, and educate yourself on systemic and learned racism. These online events will help you learn more and provide a platform for conversations on racial injustices and inequality.
Racism and Violence: How to Help Kids Handle the News:
With protests over the violent deaths of black Americans dominating the news, it’s understandable that many kids are feeling scared, confused or angry about the situation. How can parents, many of whom are struggling themselves, help children process what they’re seeing and manage their feelings? There’s no one right answer. That said, there are a few guidelines parents can keep in mind to help kids deal with troubling news about race and violence.