Title
To declare racism as a public health crisis in the City of Columbus and to recommit our full attention to improving the quality of life and health of our minority residents. Columbus is committed to honestly and directly addressing minority health inequities, including a systematic, data-driven focus on poverty, economic mobility, and other factors that impact the social determinants of health. Minorities are impacted more greatly by challenges and inequities in many areas, including but not limited to Crime, Social Capital, Education, Transportation, Employment, Food Access, Health Behaviors, Socioeconomic Status, Environmental Exposure, Access to Health Services, Housing, and Public Safety.
Body
WHEREAS, racism is rooted in the foundation of America, beginning with chattel slavery in 1619; much of the Black experience in America has been endured under slavery and Jim Crow which allowed preferential opportunities for some while subjecting people of color to hardships and disadvantages in every area of life; and
WHEREAS, health disparities have existed in America for more than 400 years - we now are witnessing a coronavirus pandemic which is shining a stark light upon the long-running racial divide - Black patients are dying in larger-than-expected, record numbers, COVID-19 is killing Black people at 2.4 times the rate of white people and Black people are disproportionately suffering in-part due to long standing, unaddressed health disparities as well as systematic racism and other socioeconomic inequities; and
WHEREAS, there is clear data to illustrate that racism negatively impacts the lives of Black people in the City of Columbus - the current COVID- 19 crisis has helped to highlight now, more than ever, that racism, not race causes disproportionately higher rates of homelessness, incarceration, and economic hardships for African Americans - racism can be seen across systemic, institutional and interpersonal levels - all operating over the cou...
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