In response to growing concern over racial divide and ongoing tensions within the United States, leaders in cities across the state of Ohio have declared racism a public health crisis. This move, a bold strategy first introduced by Democratic local representatives, is aimed at providing both validation and government support for disenfranchised communities who’ve been most severely impacted by systemic racism. Is declaring racism as a threat to public health the right way to address issues that face people of color within our nation? Is racism a societal sickness that can be cured through policy changes?

Racism, as a whole, is a deeply convoluted issue. Proponents who support declaring it a threat to public health believe that many of the issues facing people of color within densely populated urban areas are rooted in systemic racism, or policies that have unfairly placed communities at a disadvantage for decades. Their goal with declaring racism as a public health crisis is to pull in government support in addressing some of these problems in an effort to create a better future for black communities. 

Those who oppose this step argue that racism is an interpersonal issue that is constructed both by the inherent bias of the individual and learned behaviors propelled by the environment in which the prejudiced person exists. Relying on research studies that suggest racism is a mental illness that can be cured, those in opposition believe the onus in stopping racism lies not with the government but with the individual.  

Declaring racism as a public health crisis that targets the urban core places the responsibility of addressing the issues on local governments. The declarations provide access to federal funding that can be incorporated in educational reforms, a review of policies and rights, more in depth training for public servants, and the opportunity to further analyze the situation in an effort to find sustainable long term solutions. If racism is, indeed, a mental health issue that can be addressed and cured on an individual basis, is the use of federal funding to further explore and address the issue really a necessary step in healing our society?

The question for debate, should #racism be seen as a sickness and considered a #healthcrisis in the state of Ohio?