CDC Director: Racism A ‘Serious Public Health Threat’

On Thursday, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), stated that racism was a “serious public health threat.” The CDC echoed on its website that racism was a systemic problem, asserting, “To build a healthier America for all, we must confront the systems and policies that have resulted in the generational injustice that has given rise to racial and ethnic health inequities.”

The Hill noted that the CDC, with Walensky calling racism a public health threat, became “the largest federal agency to do so,” adding, “The declaration is part of a new agency-wide initiative called Racism and Health, which the CDC said is meant to be a hub for its research into the effects of racism on health, and efforts to achieve health equity. The initiative is meant to go beyond studying the issue and focus on taking action.”