Bringing More Attention To Solving Long-Ignored Racial Gaps In Health By Declaring Racism A Public Health Crisis
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has joined hundreds of cities and counties across the country in declaring racism a public health threat. On April 8, 2021, CDC Director Dr. Rochelle P. Walensky called racism an epidemic that affects “the entire health of our nation.”
Declaring racism a public health threat will create a sharper strategic and operational focus on understanding and combating racism. Walensky said the CDC will invest more in communities of color and will work to create more diversity within the CDC.
The agency will create a portal on the CDC site called “Racism and Health” to help provide resources and to educate people.
As a professor and founding dean of the Fairbanks School of Public Health at Indiana University, I agree drawing attention to the racial ga...