Health Equity and Racial Healing: Marking the 6th National Day of Racial Healing

Posted by Renata Schiavo and Radhika Ramesh on behalf of all of us at Health Equity Initiative

As we enter 2022 with the hope for an increased emphasis on advancing health equity in our society, we want to mark today the 6th National Day of Racial Healing, which takes place annually on the Tuesday after Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and seeks to bridge racial divides to transform our communities for our children and future generations. This national day of truth telling, dialogue, and collective purpose is part of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation (THRT) efforts, and a much needed reminder on the importance of standing together against racism and promoting healing.  

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“The physiological and psychological impact of racism on the health and well-being of the groups  experiencing social discrimination and marginalization is well documented within existing literature (1)” and affect our entire communities by creating divides and limiting opportunities for health and social well-being for current and future generations. “Racism is too often the root cause of many of the health and social inequities we observe both in the United States and globally (1).” 

As part of its effort to address social discrimination in its many manifestations, including systemic racism and implicit bias, Health Equity Initiative is honored to have participated in the 2016 TRHT design phase, “which engaged 176 leaders and scholars from 144 national organizations with a reach of more than 289 people (2).” Through our signature Racial Healing and Health Equity Community Discussions, and more recently some of the events in our Community Leaders Forums Initiative, which is generously supported by Macy’s Inc., we have also been actively promoting and encouraging understanding of the connection between racism and health equity as a key element of advancing the health equity movement and achieving equity in health for all.

As we mark the 6th National Day of Racial Healing, we invite you all, our members and broader community, to:

• Join the conversation and explore the many events and resources being organized across the United States today to mark the 2022 National Day of Racial Healing
• Listen to the recording of our recent community leader forum on Racial Healing and Health Equity:  A Look at Promising Policies and Community-Driven Interventions to learn about the reflections and recommendations by participating community leaders
• Participate in today’s conversation on racial healing by engaging on your social media with the hashtags #HowWeHeal #RacialHealing #HealthEquity

 
Your participation can help forge the path for racial healing in your organization and community, and ultimately help advance health, racial, and social equity!  Thank you!

References:

1. Schiavo, R., Oledibe, N, Faroul, L. and Health Equity Initiative. (2018). Engaging New Allies in the Health Equity Movement: Highlights and Recommendations from the 2018 Summit Innovation Think Tanks. New York, NY: Health Equity Initiative. June 2018. ​Available at: https://www.healthequityinitiative.org/reports.html
2. W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation. https://healourcommunities.org/

Image Credits: 1) Logo: National Day of Racial Healing Press Kit - https://healourcommunities.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/NDORH_Press-Kit_2022_Promotional.pdf; 2) and 3) Health Equity Initiative

 See other related Health Equity Initiative’s content: 

• Racism is a Health Equity Issue Campaign and Pledge 
• Racial Healing and Health Equity Community Discussion Events
• Webinars on implicit bias and racial equity topics