Necessary Conversations: Understanding Racism as a Barrier to Achieving Health Equity

Structural racism refers to the persistence of inequity in communities of color while others benefit from a disproportionately larger share of the nation’s resources. There is indisputable evidence that the impacts of this inequity are generational. Structural racism has led to a lack of basic healthcare, education, housing, and other needs for too many in our nation.

Authentic conversations about racial inequities are essential, difficult, and urgent. There are many forces that prevent people from talking about racism. Without honest reflections on race and the history of this nation, conversation and narratives often generate unproductive fear, shame, guilt, avoidance, and denial. This book by Dr. Alonzo Plough, RWJF Chief Science Officer, shows us how we need to a place of healing and action.

The book, published by Oxford University Press, features a diverse set of voices, including Nikole Hannah-Jones, a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, Derrick Johnson, president and CEO of NAACP, Crystal Echo Hawk of IllumiNative, Gail Christopher, executive director, National Collaborative for Health Equity, among many other esteemed thinkers and doers.

Learn more and download the free e-book, Necessary Conversations here.
View the recording of the Necessary Conversations book talk webinar here.