FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Media Relations
Statement from APHA Executive Director Georges C. Benjamin, MD
On this fifth annual National Day of Racial Healing, the American Public Health Association continues to applaud the W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s commitment to hosting a day of honest dialogue focusing on how we can best achieve a more just and equitable world.
Racism is a public health crisis because of the undeniable link between racism and poor health. If we want to achieve our vision of creating the healthiest nation in one generation, we must work to heal the divisions, injustices and barriers to health caused by a deeply held false belief in a hierarchy of human value that fuels racism.
Our nation is in dire need of racial healing. We stand with those who choose to take part in honest and respectful conversations about the roots of our division and how we can rise above our real and perceived differences to begin to address the systems and structures that threaten the health of our communities.
APHA supports approaches, solutions and initiatives that not only promote racial equity, but the improved health equity that will come from it. We hope today’s spotlight on racial healing leads to meaningful change in our country.
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The American Public Health Association champions the health of all people and all communities. We are the only organization that combines a nearly 150-year perspective, a broad-based member community and the ability to influence federal policy to improve the public’s health. Learn more at www.apha.org.