It's Not Race, It's Racism
Racism, past and present, affect birth outcomes by having an effect on birthing families throughout their lives. Some examples of racial inequity that leads to poor health outcomes are:
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Racist housing covenants leading to poor housing and neighborhood conditions that persist today
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Inability to accumulate wealth for generations due to slavery, segregation, and codified oppression
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Systemic racism, including miscarriages of justice, inequitable banking policies, housing and employment discrimination, and educational segregation
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Poor treatment and bias affecting quality of health care and education
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Interpersonal racism, either overt or covert
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Internalized racism and harboring negative beliefs about own racial group
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Racism changes bodies, minds, and even genes.
Since 2013, BHB has convened a workgroup to build a common framework, language, and agenda for undoing racism and achieving health equity. The workgroup aims to:
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Make community voice central to planning and mobilization
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Use data to make injustice visible
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Welcome challenges to privilege and oppression
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Root out racist and discriminatory practices in our programs and workplaces and replace them with equitable ones
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Look first to partner on new funding with community-based organizations instead of larger institutions
BHB staff commit to anti-racist principles and participate in ongoing training and activities to learn how to dismantle racism and discrimination. During 2016-2018, 235 people from 64 agencies participated in Undoing Racism Workshops led by the People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond. BHB has a clear call to action: to address inequities in our systems and services that contribute to health disparities through an anti-racist lens.
Coming Soon: An exploration of historical oppression in Baltimore City and how this has lead to disparities in maternal and infant health.