Racism is a social determinant of health and it’s time we address it

Build Healthy Places Network's statement on the Killing of George Floyd

We are deeply saddened and appalled by the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and many others who have lost their lives due to police brutality and other forms of racial injustices that continue to harm black and brown communities throughout the country. We stand as partners with the Black communities and millions of people who face racial discrimination everyday.

At Build Healthy Places Network, we are dedicated to building an equitable future where good health and fair opportunity are outcomes for all. We approach our mission by addressing the social determinants of health, and it is impossible to talk about social determinants of health without talking about the effects of structural, institutional and interpersonal racism.

In many of the communities where we partner, systemic racism shows up in many forms, including housing discrimination, predatory lending practices, decades of disinvestment, inequitable economic opportunities and environments that do not support healthy lives. Most recently this is being highlighted by the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on these same communities. Racism is a barrier to health equity that needs to be confronted now.

We cannot go back to normal. We need to do better, and we can do better. Join us in a call to action, where we commit to our collective responsibility to achieve health equity by addressing racism in all its forms.

Start today with the resources below:

• Read Community Organizations Have to Talk About Police Violence Directly, Shelterforce Magazine
• Follow National Association of City and County Health Officials (NACCHO) policy resources
• Explore Racial Justice Tools from Race Forward