Racism structures opportunities and assigns values based on the social interpretation of how one looks, what we call “race”. This distorted ideology is deeply embedded in practices, policies and behaviors that disproportionately impact communities of color. As research and lived experiences have shown, it is a legitimate threat to the health and well-being of these populations.

This presentation will explore the historical roots of racism in the US and highlight how structural systems facilitate and perpetuate violence using a health equity lens. It will urge public health to continue to optimize the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, learn and age. It is imperative to partner with sectors to address the factors that influence health, including employment, housing, education, public safety and food access.  Ultimately, we must name racism as a force in determining how these social determinants are distributed so can address and dismantle the root causes with intention.