A racism-conscious health policy is one that aims to prevent inequities and mitigate the long-standing effects of discriminatory laws, policies, practices and customs that have caused harm to people of color. Public health academics are among experts arguing the term “racism-conscious” is an accurate descriptor because it correctly implies that differences in health outcomes have been influenced by or are the direct result of centuries of discriminatory laws, policies, practices and customs against imposed on people of color.
The authors of this Health Affairs article are among academics who make a distinction between race-based and racism-conscious policies. In the article, they argue that “will allow policy makers to address racism by identifying, understanding, and responding to the structural barriers and inequities that give rise to and maintain the social, political, and economic limitations imposed on minoritized groups in the U.S.”
In the recent style guide published by the American Medical Association and the American Association of Medical Colleges, the authors argue that “In contrast to a race-based approach, a race-conscious framework can promote anti-racist practices, shifting focus from race to racism in all its forms.”
Sources
- Proposing A Racism-Conscious Approach To Policy Making And Health Care Practices — Health Affairs.
- Advancing Health Equity: A Guide to Language, Narrative and Concepts — American Medical Association and American Association of Medical Colleges.