The Other Pandemic:  Why Racism is a Public Health Crisis

Racism assigns value based on how a person looks, resulting in conditions that unfairly advantage some, unfairly disadvantage others, and contribute to inequities in access and opportunity.  As a result, many communities have declared racism a “public health crisis.” 

But what does that mean?  And what does it mean within the context of higher education?

Whether it’s police-involved killings, or health care settings where Black patients can’t get treatment because they’re not seen as being sick enough, or neighborhoods impacted by financial redlining, food deserts, and increased exposure to environmental toxins, it’s ultimately due to racism.

These examples make it clear that racism is deeply embedded within the policies and practices across our social, economic, and healthcare systems. 

In higher education, however, racism also manifests itself in many forms, including:

• Biases in selection and assessment criteria for learning and advancement;
• Issues of access and exclusion that limit ability to meet basic needs;
• Differential quality of mental and physical health care resources; and
• Increased experiences that undermine individual value and safety.

Join us for this virtual event to learn more about what it means to declare racism as a public health crisis, and the implications this has for academia.  Opening remarks will be followed by panel discussion of distinguished community members.

Register for the Zoom event here: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJApfuyoqz0tHdYBWNZyF6r7vqHrDcxj1Ayr

This event is in collaboration with the KSU Annual Martin Luther King Jr Celebration.  See the full calendar here: https://www.kent.edu/diversity/mlk-celebration-calendar-events

If you questions about this specific College of Public Health event, please contact Dr. Tina Bhargava at tbharga1@kent.edu