Nov 22, 2020
A Win for Anti-Racism
American Medical Association Declares Racism as a Public Health Threat
On November 16th, Kevin B. O’Reilly reported in the American Medical Association (AMA) newsletter that the organization explicitly recognizes racism as a public health threat alongside a plan to mitigate its efforts.
AMA Board Member Willarda V. Edwards M.D., M.B.A. stated, “The AMA recognizes that racism negatively impacts and exacerbates health inequities among historically marginalized communities.”
Not only that but there will be a clear impact if we allow it to continue. “Without systemic and structural change, health inequities will continue to exist, and the overall health of the nation will suffer.”
With the pandemic, we saw how our institutions have failed us — especially in the realm of bottom-line survival measures as well as how our wellness and sociability are interconnected. We discovered the weak points in our relationship to one another, and one particular weak point was the anti-Black racism that runs rampant through us all. “As physicians and leaders in medicine, we are committed to optimal health for all and are working to ensure all people and communities reach their full health potential.”
Ibram X. Kendi, author and anti-racism activist, taught us that policies help groups of people. Activating the health sector seems like a big win for anti-racist work, “Declaring racism as an urgent public health threat is a step in the right direction toward advancing equity in medicine and public health while creating otherways for truth, healing, and reconciliation.”
While I have a healthy dose of skepticism about how far these sort of “initiatives” can go, seeing Black professionals get excited about this news on Twitter gave me hope.
Find out more about the AMA’s efforts here.
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