Racism causes persistent discrimination and disparate outcomes in many areas of life, including housing, education, employment, and criminal justice.

History shows that the promised benefits of American life such as freedom, generational wealth and equal opportunity are not meant for everyone. In fact, structural racism in our society purposely excludes and subjugates people of color.

Scientists no longer believe there is a biological basis to distinguish racial groups. They now see race as a social, cultural, and/or political construct where racial segregation has real consequences on health and health disparities. Numerous public health studies have concluded that the root cause of health inequities is racism. 

To take it a step further, research has also shown that racism is a social determinant of health. Racism doesn’t just affect the health poor people, it crosses income lines as well. Being Black is bad for your health.

Health disparities have been amplified during the COVID-19 crisis as African Americans have the highest number of recorded cases and deaths. According to a study by the APM Research Lab, the latest overall COVID-19 mortality rate for Black Americans is 2.3 times as high as the rate for Whites and Asians, and 2.2 times as high as the Latino rate.

Public health studies show that the racism African Americans experience in their daily lives create stress that affects their internal organs and overall physical health. This results in a higher prevalence of chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, asthma and diabetes, which make people more vulnerable to COVID-19. Black Americans are more likely to have these diseases than white Americans. 

Even when class and poverty are accounted for, African Americans still have worse health outcomes than white Americans. Higher rates of poverty, substandard housing, unemployment, and toxic environmental exposure, in addition to less access to quality medical care also contribute to poor overall health in black communities. 

The average life expectancy of African Americans is four years lower than the rest of the U.S. population. Black women are up to four times more likely to die of pregnancy related complications than white women. Black men are more than twice as likely to be killed by police as white men. Racism is present in every aspect of American life. We are not immune here in Maryland. 

Here in Maryland, as Governor Hogan has noted on the ABC news program This Week, “This disparity among African Americans is very disturbing.” The zip codes where COVID-19 has hit particularly hard are majority African American and Latinx.  We must do something to address these disparities.  

It is time for Governor Hogan and the General Assembly to follow the leadership of Montgomery County, MD and declare Racism as a public Health Emergency.