Statement on Racial Equity

Race, Racism, and Antiracist Defined

Race is a social construct with no biological basis. Racism perpetuates the belief that there are superior and inferior races. It can be expressed as prejudice -- the intense dislike of others because of skin color, language, customs, place of birth, and related factors. While prejudice is common to all groups, here in the United States, racism refers to the harm done as a result of white racism directed mostly, but not exclusively, at Black and Brown people. Historically, racism has led to the violent oppression of people of color. It has created a hatred so powerful that it has resulted in economic and legal injustice and physical and emotional harm. The evidence of its impact is still with us. Today, much of the injustice, harm, and hatred endures in both subtle and overt ways.

Public Health expert, Camara Phyllis Jones, MD, MPH, PhD, defines racism as a system of structuring opportunity and assigning value based on the social interpretation of how one looks. This unfairly disadvantages some individuals and communities, unfairly advantages other individuals and communities, and saps the strength of the whole society through the waste of human resources.

Ibram X. Kendi, PhD, argues that to overcome the impacts of our racist society, it is not enough to be “not racist.” We must strive to be antiracist. Kendi defines an antiracist as one who is supporting an antiracist policy through their actions or expressing an antiracist idea. Further, an antiracist idea suggests that racial groups are equal in all their apparent differences—that there is nothing right or wrong with any racial group. Antiracist ideas argue that racist policies are the cause of racial inequities.

Racism and Health

Racism hurts the health of our communities by preventing some people the opportunity to attain their highest level of health - referred to as health equity. Racism is a driving force that negatively impacts social determinants of health and is a barrier to health equity. CARE recognizes the impact of racism on health in New Haven and is committed to fighting for racial justice.

Social determinants of health are conditions in the environments in which people live, learn, work, play, worship, and age that affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes and risks. Healthy People 2020 organizes the social determinants of health around five key domains: (1) Economic Stability, (2) Education, (3) Health and Health Care, (4) Neighborhood and Built Environment, and (5) Social and Community Context.

CARE recognizes that every aspect of these determinants is impacted by racism. Examples include:

  • Redlining, a discriminatory practice that results in segregated neighborhoods concentrated in urban areas and defined by poverty and economic suppression.

  • Inequitable distribution of educational opportunities in segregated, low income, communities of color when compared to wealthier, white counterparts. Schools are under resourced, class sizes are larger, and there are limited extracurricular activities.

  • Lower educational achievement and economic suppression leads to poverty. Occupational immobility contributes to multigenerational poverty.

  • Poverty and race are strongly correlated with poor health outcomes - including higher rates of maternal and infant mortality and premature death.

  • Segregated Black and Brown neighborhoods do not have equitable access to safe streets, recreational activities, healthy foods, and other health-promoting opportunities, particularly when compared to wealthier, white communities.

  • Access to health and healthcare is impacted by racism at many levels, including economic suppression (ability to afford healthcare, medication, insurance, etc.) and discrimination within the healthcare system.

CARE recognizes health and wellbeing are negatively impacted by unjust systems perpetuated by racism.

Commitment to Anti-Racism

CARE is committed to fighting racism in all forms and stands in solidarity with Black and Brown communities. CARE demonstrates its commitment by:

  • Fighting for social justice and fairness in all systems.

  • Fostering a culture of inclusion, equity, and respect in all levels of our work: individually, organizationally, and in the community.

  • Examining and continuously reassessing our policies, programs, and practices to ensure they reflect and advance our values of inclusion and equity.

  • Recognizing the deeply internal and ongoing reflective work that is necessary at the individual level to be antiracist and ensuring all staff and students working at CARE participate in antiracist training.

  • Ensuring staff, students, and members of various committees at CARE reflect the communities with which we work (Advisory Council, REACH Steering Committee, various working groups, etc).

  • Engaging in work that contributes to solutions rather than being part of the problem.

  • Identifying and committing to best practices in public health that challenge racism and hate.

About CARE

The Community Alliance for Research and Engagement was founded in 2007 and is co-housed at Southern Connecticut State University and the Yale School of Public Health. CARE’s mission is to improve health in New Haven among people most impacted by disparities, including black and brown communities and low-income populations through collaborative research, practice, and engagement.

CARE recognizes the individuals and organizations in the public health field that have been working toward health equity for decades and pushing the field toward continued evolution that is more deeply focused on an antiracist framework. Over the past 13 years, CARE has contributed to this dialogue and to work in New Haven. We are proud of our successes, yet we recognize that much more work is required in New Haven, and especially within our academic institutions. Please browse the rest of our website for information on past and ongoing activities.