Health: anti-racism reading and resources

The Basics

Overview Race shapes who gets care, what kind of care they get and how long they live. Black, Brown and Indigenous communities face higher rates of illness and worse treatment in hospitals and clinics, and the causes are rooted in racism, not biology. Health justice means fixing the system, not blaming the patient.

Why this matters, in three numbers.

In 2023, Black women died from pregnancy-related causes at a rate of 50.3 per 100,000 births, more than three times the rate for white women (14.5). (CDC National Center for Health Statistics)
Black babies died before their first birthday at a rate of 10.9 per 1,000 births in 2022, more than double the rate for white babies (4.5). (CDC)
In 2024, 10.1% of Black people under 65 had no health insurance, compared with 6.8% of white people. (KFF)

Three words that come up again and again on this topic. See all of our key terminology >

Implicit Bias — Unconscious attitudes or stereotypes that shape how we understand people and make decisions about them.
Disability Justice — A movement that challenges ableism and centers disabled people, especially disabled people of color.
Ableism — Discrimination against disabled people, through physical barriers, attitudes or stereotypes.

Three things you can do this month.

Ask your rep to pass the Momnibus Act. The Momnibus Act (H.R. 7973) is a package of bills to end preventable deaths of moms, with a focus on Black women. It was reintroduced in March 2026 by Rep. Lauren Underwood and is waiting in committee. Call script: "I'm a constituent, and I'm asking you to cosponsor and pass the Momnibus Act, H.R. 7973."
Give to Black Mamas Matter Alliance. This Black women-led network works to make sure Black mothers get safe, respectful care before, during and after birth.
Give blood at a drive near you. People with sickle cell disease, most of them Black, often need regular transfusions, and Black donors are the closest match. Find a Red Cross drive and book a time this month.

The Racial Origins of BMI
The Body Mass Index, a tool integrated into the U.S. healthcare system, was created from research that was deeply flawed and exclusive.
Dominique Stewart Apr 5, 2022
The Barriers to End-of-Life Hospice Care
Underserved communities withheld end-of-life support as healthcare disparities in hospice care access grow.
Kayla Hui, MPH Jul 14, 2023
What is Gender-Affirming Care?
Dozens of anti-trans laws have been passed recently, with many banning gender-affirming care for youth.
Andrew Lee May 30, 2023
The Latest Round of Anti-DEI Attacks Targets Maternal Health
Conservative efforts to stymie equity and inclusion efforts are causing severe consequences for marginalized communities.
Dominique Stewart Nov 30, 2023
How to Address Loneliness in a Disconnected World
Despite being one of the most connected societies in the age of social media, forums, and live streaming, America is facing a loneliness epidemic.
Dominique Stewart Oct 24, 2023
The Growing Threat to Contraception Access
Recent attacks on contraception threaten to undo decades of progress made by the landmark Griswold v. Connecticut ruling.
Dominique Stewart Jun 8, 2023

These groups are led by people of color and work on health every day. Follow them for updates and ways to help.

BEAM (Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective) Trains and funds Black mental health and healing work. Visit their website, and follow @_beamorg on Instagram to get updates in your newsfeed.
Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum Advocates for health equity for Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. Visit their website, and follow @apiahf on Instagram to get updates in your newsfeed.
National Indian Health Board Represents Tribal nations on health care and public health policy. Visit their website, and follow @nihb1 on Instagram to get updates in your newsfeed.

Organizers, scholars and journalists who know this topic. Follow them to keep learning.

Dr. Uché Blackstock Emergency physician; author of Legacy. She explains how racism shows up in medicine and what patients and doctors can do about it. Follow them here.
Dr. Joia Crear-Perry OB-GYN; founder of the National Birth Equity Collaborative. She names racism as a root cause of poor health for Black mothers and pushes for policy fixes. Follow @doccrearperry on Instagram.
Linda Villarosa Journalist; author of Under the Skin. Her reporting for The New York Times Magazine shows how racism harms Black people's health, in clear, human stories. Follow @linda_villarosa on Instagram.

Independent newsrooms and newsletters that cover health often. Read and donate if you can!

KFF Health News. Nonprofit newsroom on health care, costs and health inequities. Follow @kffhealthnews on Instagram.
Word In Black. Black press collaborative with a strong health equity beat. Follow @wordinblacknews on Instagram.
Healthbeat. Nonprofit newsroom covering public health and its effects on communities. Follow @healthbeatnews on Instagram.
Parker Street. Julia Craven on Black wellness, public health cuts and health equity. Follow @rocketjuju on Instagram.

A book, a film and a podcast by creators of color to go deeper.

Read: Medical Apartheid by Harriet A. Washington. The history of medical experiments on Black Americans, and why trust in medicine is still shaped by it.
Watch: The Color of Care by Yance Ford. How racism in the health care system shaped who lived and died during COVID-19, executive produced by Oprah Winfrey.
Listen: Therapy for Black Girls by Dr. Joy Harden Bradford. A psychologist talks with experts about mental health and everyday well-being for Black women.

Not sure how to bring this up with family or coworkers? Try one of these.

Have you ever felt like a doctor didn't listen to you, and what did you do?
Did you know Black moms die from pregnancy at about three times the rate of white moms?
What would make it easier for people in our family to get care when they need it?

ps – this is a community-created guide that is updated often. Want to make changes/corrections? Complete this form.