Systemic Racism Is a Public Health Crisis

Systemic Racism Definition: Racial Equity Tools, Racism

COVID-19 Impact Data:

Population Share: The United States Census Bureau

National Death Data: The COVID Tracking Project, The COVID Racial Data Tracker

• NOTE: Current as of August 17, 2020

Risk Factors for Black Communities:

Over-Representation in Frontline and Essential Worker Roles: Associated Press

Unequal Health Insurance Access: Changes in Health Coverage by Race and Ethnicity since the ACA, 2010-2018, Kaiser Family Foundation

Hypersegregated Housing: COVID-19 in context: Racism, Segregation, and Racial Inequities in Philadelphia, Drexel University, Urban Health Collaborative

Food Insecurity: Feeding America, Hunger hits African American communities harder

Housing Insecurity: National Alliance to End Homelessness

Wealth: Brookings, Examining the Black-white wealth gap

Education: Adapted from USA Today article, “12 charts show how racial disparities persist across wealth, health, education and beyond”; original data from National Center for Education Statistics

Mass Incarceration: The Color of Justice: Racial and Ethnic Disparity in State Prisons, The Sentencing Project

Stress and Allostatic Load Representation:

• How the stress of racism can harm your health—and what that has to do with Covid-19, NOVA
• 
McEwen BS, Stellar E. Stress and the Individual: Mechanisms Leading to Disease. Arch Intern Med. 1993;153(18):2093–2101. doi:10.1001/archinte.1993.00410180039004

Health Disparities:

Health disparities (Hypertension, Diabetes, Obesity): Adapted from CDC analysis and infographic on risk factors

Maternal Mortality: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Reproductive Health, Pregnancy-related Mortality

Actionable Ways to Address Disparities:

• Address Provider Bias: “It’s Time To Address The Role Of Implicit Bias Within Health Care Delivery, " Health Affairs Blog, January 15, 2020. DOI: 10.1377/hblog20200108.34515
• Identify and Correct Racially-Biased Health Care Algorithms: Obermeyer Z, Powers B, Vogeli C and Mullainathan S. “Dissecting Racial Bias in an Algorithm Used to Manage the Health of Populations.” Science, 36(6464):447-53, October 25, 2019
• Provide Culturally-Competent Care: How to Address COVID-19 in Communities of Color, ASTHO Experts Blog
• Diversify Workforce: How Health Equity Gaps Affect COVID-19 Impact, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois
• Conduct Community Outreach: HHS Initiatives to Address the Disparate Impact of COVID-19 on African Americans and Other Racial and Ethnic Minorities
• Improve Locations of COVID-19 Testing Sites: “In Large Texas Cities, Access To Coronavirus Testing May Depend On Where You Live,” NPR Shots
• Increase Internet Access and Telehealth Opportunities: HHS Initiatives to Address the Disparate Impact of COVID-19 on African Americans and Other Racial and Ethnic Minorities
• Increase Access to and Awareness of Self-Protective Equipment: How Systemic Racism Impacts Coronavirus Racial Disparities, Anti-Defamation League
• Incorporate Equity in Value-Based Care Arrangements: How Health Equity Gaps Affect COVID-19 Impact, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois

Strategies for Lasting Change:

• Dismantle Structures that Support Racism and Wealth: Structural Racism, Racial Equity Tools
• Expand Health Care Coverage and Access: “Addressing Racial Health Disparities In The COVID-19 Pandemic: Immediate And Long-Term Policy Solutions, " Health Affairs Blog, July 20, 2020. DOI: 10.1377/hblog20200716.620294
• Address Social Determinants of Health:
  • Four Ways Research Can Drive Racial Equity in Education in 2020 and Beyond, Urban Institute
  • COVID-19 Racial Health Disparities Highlight Why We Need to Address Structural Racism, Urban Institute
  • The Coronavirus Crisis Is Worsening Racial Inequality: Center for American Progress
• Equality and Equity Graphic: Adapted from original by Craig Froehle