Racism, COVID-19, and Health Inequity in the USA: a Call to Action

Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities
Crista E Johnson-AgbakwuDean V Coonrod

Abstract

The current national COVID-19 mortality rate for Black Americans is 2.1 times higher than that of Whites. In this commentary, we provide historical context on how structural racism undergirds multi-sector policies which contribute to racial health inequities such as those highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic. We offer a concrete, actionable path forward to address structural racism and advance health equity for Black Americans through anti-racism, implicit bias, and cultural competency training; capacity building; community-based participatory research (CBPR) initiatives; validated metrics for longitudinal monitoring of efforts to address health disparities and the evaluation of those interventions; and advocacy for and empowerment of vulnerable communities. This necessitates a multi-pronged, coordinated approach led by clinicians; public health professionals; researchers; social scientists; policy-makers at all governmental levels; and local community leaders and stakeholders across the education, legal, social service, and economic sectors to proactively and systematically advance health equity for Black Americans across the USA.

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Citations

Jul 14, 2021·Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities·Anna Beth Parlier-AhmadCaitlin E Martin
Jul 22, 2021·Environmental Health Perspectives·Howard Frumkin
Sep 2, 2021·Medical Science Educator·Neil Osheroff
Nov 4, 2021·Women's Midlife Health·Sherri-Ann M Burnett-Bowie, Gloria A Bachmann

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