Right here at We ❤ Well being Literacy Headquarters, we’ve been considering quite a bit about how we focus on race, racism, and threat in our well being supplies. And with COVID-19 killing Black folks and different folks of colour at vastly disproportionate charges, it’s extra pressing than ever to get this tough dialog proper.
So let’s take a run-of-the-mill threat assertion like this: “Black persons are at increased threat of dying from COVID-19.” At first look, which may appear to be a helpful piece of data. In any case, the information clearly present the racial disparity in dying charges. And speaking about threat may help folks make knowledgeable well being choices, proper? So… what’s improper with it?
Nicely, there’s the little wrinkle that race is a social assemble. So after we cite race as a threat issue for a organic situation, we’re usually utilizing it as a careless proxy for both genetic ancestry — which doesn’t neatly align with race — or social components like entry to well being care.
So how can we do higher? If a racial well being disparity is said to a genetic trait (like sickle cell illness), be particular about that. And if it’s associated to systemic racism or different social determinants of well being, be particular about that, too. Strive an announcement like this: “As a result of well being results of racism, Black persons are dying of COVID-19 at increased charges than white folks.”
Naming racism as the danger issue right here is extra correct — and it locations the burden the place it belongs: on racist programs and establishments. And programs and establishments can change if all of us acknowledge their failures and work to appropriate them.
The underside line: As well being communicators, it’s our job to call racism — not race — as a threat issue for illness, when that’s what we’re actually speaking about.