Since our founding in 2017, we at the Center for the Study of Racism, Social Justice & Health have worked hard to document the effects of racism on diverse populations, and develop innovative, new ways to advance anti-racism approaches to studying and addressing its health implications. Our book Racism: Science & Tools for the Public Health Professional, (co-editors Ford CL, Griffith DM, Bruce MA and Gilbert KL) was published by the American Public Health Association (APHA) in 2019. When my co-editors and I first began crafting our vision for Racism in late 2017, we feared the overt racism surrounding the 2016 election might quickly get swept under the rug and with it the possibility of tapping into the concerns it piqued about the need to address racism in our society. When published in August of last year (2019), however, it was abundantly clear to us that the 600-page book is more necessary now than we could have imagined then.
As director of the Center for the Study of Racism, Social Justice & Health, I am extremely proud of the impact we are having in the field of public health and in our communities. Our COVID-19 Task Force on Racism and Equity, a collaboration with Charles R. Drew University co-chaired by Bita Amani (lead) and Chandra Ford has been publishing in the scientific literature and lay media, advising policymakers, and conducting community-engaged research. Our faculty, student, staff and community affiliates continue to fight for a world in which people affected by anti-Asian racism and those affected by anti-Black racism stand together in coalition for health equity; immigrants are not racialized; and the underlying root causes (e.g., historical trauma, imperialism, displacement) of COVID-19 among indigenous and pacific Islander populations are acknowledged and targeted as public health problems. Our faculty are teaching additional courses that respond to the challenges of the day. In our community partnerships, we confront the most brutal sides of racism, such as the serial killings of women of color.
Working for justice is not easy. We encounter many challenges and the reception we receive is not always warm. Nevertheless, we put forward our best efforts. And, we have fun fighting the good fight together!
I thank each person who has contributed to the Center’s mission over the last year by volunteering your time, attending an event, sharing information with us or with others, or engaging in the critical conversations that help us collectively address social injustices. If you have not yet gotten involved, please join us in 2021!
Finally, if you appreciate the work of the center and would like to ensure its impact continues to grow, please donate today. All donations go directly to the Center’s research, training/teaching and community engagement efforts.
We wish everyone a safe and restful holiday season. And, while you’re enjoying your holidays, please remember to look out for those who have little during this season.
In struggle for Justice,
Chandra L. Ford
