Brookline Public Health is committed to health equity, social justice, and improving communities that suffer from systemic racism.
By: Dr. Swannie Jett, DrPH, MSc, Brookline Department of Public Health Commissioner
It’s well documented that racism impacts health, educational system, housing, the criminal justice system, banking, insurance, and the list goes on. Anytime an epidemic, pandemic or natural disaster occurs, people of color are hit the hardest because of structural inequities and social determinants of health influenced by bias and racial discrimination.
In public health, we often determine the vitality of a community by several measures, including schools, poverty level, housing, parks, health care access, and safety. In many communities of color, this is a failing grade. This didn’t occur overnight, but communities became vulnerable systematically through racism. No community thrives when people suffer.
As a professor, I teach these principles to enlighten students about the social determinants of health. I focus on the data and policies that will help them to build healthy, thriving communities. But, what’s more, important is sharing our lived experience.
When I was 12, I remember riding my bike from Hamilton Park to Marquette Park in Chicago, IL. Hamilton Park did not have much appeal and was shabby with basketball rims with no nets. In contrast, Marquette Park had nice green grass, basketball nets, and it was pretty. I stopped to admire the park, and moments later, people began shouting racial slurs and throwing rocks. This was my first experience with racism.
Living on the Southside of Chicago, I often witnessed police harassing people, including myself, for wearing hats that they assumed were affiliated with a gang. They would stop and frisk us often on our way to school or just walking to the store for no apparent reason. This was a clear violation of our human rights.
When I lived in Louisville, Kentucky, I was pulled over 10 times in two years for “driving while Black,” which means I was stopped by a police officer because of racial bias rather than any visible violation of traffic law.
Although I had to appear in court for these infractions, the judge dismissed my case each time after I explained what occurred, and he recognized me from the local health department. He expressed remorse for the times police pulled me over while traveling from the suburbs to the city to coach youth football in one of my classic cars. Soon after, more people began to file racial profiling complaints against the police department, which resulted in the firing of the police chief.
Not much has changed since these incidents occurred. But, here are some ways we can improve.
1. To understand other people’s perspectives and lived experiences, we must have more empathy. Cultural diversity training shouldn’t have to teach us the fundamentals of how to respect and value human life. But the reality is we could all do a better job of treating everyone with the same preferential treatment that we provide to our family.
2. Break the silence and share your lived experience as minorities in America. It’s time to talk about race and racism in America. This will help us learn, correct our mistakes, and evolve as individuals and as a community.
3. Improve equity in every community. Our department is committed to eliminating racial disparities and health inequities through access to health care, safe and sanitary living conditions, mental health and substance abuse support, educational community programs promoting mental, emotional and physical health and wellness, healthcare policy and reform. Brookline Public Health Department in collaboration with the Department of Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Relations will continue to facilitate discussions on race and health equity. Every city, town, and state needs to take these same approaches.
4. Stop the spread. Every city, town, and state should promote health and safety, social justice, and racial equity in solidarity with peaceful protesters across the nation. Racism is an infectious disease just as COVID-19, it’s important to stop the spread by wearing a mask. But, if you hear or see an act of racism, say something, better yet do something. We need to wear a mask together to overcome this infectious disease of racism.
5. Make a difference. Take action to understand, educate, and promote social justice and racial equity through conversation with children, family, friends, and colleagues. The goals of peaceful protesters are to eliminate police violence, systemic racism, and promote social justice for all. Unlawful instigators will try to distract people from the message of protestors. Peaceful protests are asking for justice, peace, equality, and harmony.
Because of my lived experiences, I became a public servant to help people and provide my voice to improve communities. After 25 years of service, there’s still a lot more work that needs to be done, and I cannot do it alone. I’m calling on all citizens of this great nation to participate in this change.
Children of color deserve to grow up without our lived experiences. They should never have to witness the senseless murder of another Black man or woman. At war, a soldier may experience post-traumatic symptom disorder, also known as PTSD, after seeing a tragic event. Imagine yourself or your family member witnessing the violent murder of a loved one or family member, or friend. I am Mr. George Floyd, and so are my sons. My wife and daughters are Ms. Breonna Taylor. It’s time to break this vicious cycle of disease now!
It’s my hope that every community has the dream of low unemployment, great housing, beautiful parks, and great schools. I want to see change, and for that to happen, I need everyone to open their eyes and hearts.
Teach your children, family, and friends something different, tear down the structures of systemic racism, and become part of the solution. Only when this occurs, people of color will no longer need to live in fear
