CDC director declares racism ‘a serious public health threat’

In a statement released earlier this month, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declared racism a “serious public health threat” (Source: “CDC Director Declares Racism A 'Serious Public Health Threat',” National Public Radio, April 8).

In the statement, Dr. Rochelle Walensky said that, “Racism is a serious public health threat that directly affects the well-being of millions of Americans. As a result, it affects the health of our entire nation. Racism is not just the discrimination against one group based on the color of their skin or their race or ethnicity, but the structural barriers that impact racial and ethnic groups differently to influence where a person lives, where they work, where their children play, and where they worship and gather in community. These social determinants of health have life-long negative effects on the mental and physical health of individuals in communities of color."

The CDC also launched a new web portal, Racism and Health, that's designed to be a hub for public and scientific information and discourse on the subject.