Racism is a Public Health Crisis

Systemic racism has plagued our country’s institutions, policies, and programs for far too long.

The widespread oppression of minorities, particularly Black Americans, has led to severe disparities that we cannot and should not continue to ignore.

A Disproportionate Impact Study conducted by the Commissioners Court’s Analyst’s Office provides undeniable evidence of racism’s damage on virtually every social determinant of health.

Bottom line: racism is, in fact, a public health crisis.

The Office of Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis continues to support creating real change in our oppressive and racist systems. Whether equitable flood mitigation or systemic and structural racism or poverty, we are facing the truths that have been long overlooked and focusing our resources on exposing and ending the systemic racism and bias in our county.

The fallout of the COVID-19 outbreak is exacerbating existing financial, health, food, and economic challenges of low-income persons and communities of color. This is not a coincidence but rather a reflection of a long legacy of discriminatory policies and practices that result in racial and ethnic disparities. Racism impacts virtually every social determinant of health and leads to inequities in life expectancy, wealth, income, and incarceration, as well as high rates of maternal and infant deaths, asthma, cancer, and dementia, among many more factors. We have been complicit in perpetuating these inequities for far too long.

The possibility that implicit bias and structural racism exist in every policy and system allows us to shed light on inequities destroying our communities. We have joined more than 20 other cities and counties across the country to declare racism a public health crisis. To look internally, Harris County must treat this issue with the level of urgency and importance it deserves and consider a countywide Racial Equity Impact Assessment to look internally. Also, it must ensure that every measure, policy, or program approved by Commissioners Court is working to advance racial equity, not hinder it.