Racism is a Public Health Crisis

The social determinants of health are the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age. These circumstances are shaped by the distribution of money, power and resources at global, national and local levels. The social determinants of health are mostly responsible for health inequities, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Systemic racism shows up in many forms, including housing discrimination, predatory lending practices, decades of disinvestment, inequitable economic opportunities and racially driven violence. Most recently this has been highlighted by the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on communities of color and the recent murder of George Floyd, an African-American man, in the custody of Minneapolis police.

Racism is a barrier to health equity that needs to be confronted now.

The Center for Public Health & Justice encourages policymakers to develop policies and legislation that are not ‘colorblind,’ but directly address the harm caused to black people and communities of color.

Daphne Robinson, JD MPH