About Us
Who we are
Race & Health is a network of individuals who want to highlight and tackle the impact of racism, xenophobia and discrimination on health. Our network is comprised of academics, healthcare professionals, activists and other individuals from within and outside the medical and public health fields with a committment to addressing racism, xenophobia and discrimination in health.
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We acknowledge that individuals and communities experience poor health due to multiple forms of discrimination such as transphobia, ableism, and others. Therefore, we examine discrimination related to caste, colour, ethnicity/race, Indigeneity, migratory status, and religion. We were founded, and continue to be led by a group of people who have been historically minoritised. While we welcome people of all backgrounds, we are committed to centering the narratives and perspectives of minoritised people.
Why we exist
Racism, xenophobia and discrimination have a fundamental and powerful impact on health, and health research has historically exploited minoritised people, and fails to address resulting disparities in health that persist today. We strive to tackle health inequality created by discrimination and strcutural violence to achieve equity in health for all.
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Structural racism and discrimination in all areas of society lead to poor health outcomes even before people interact with the healthcare system. These systems of oppression have roots in the colonial origins of medical and global health research and practice. Similarly, leadership and funding are yet to reflect minoritised voices globally.
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We invite you to use Race & Health as a space for collaboration and a platform for sharing experiences for members of the global community on issues of racism and xenophobia in health.
Our Work
Our collective is dedicated to improving health and well-being for everyone by targeting racism, xenophobia, and discrimination. Our work falls across three categories: academic research, education, and advocacy. We believe that by combining these approaches, we can make a significant positive impact on health and well-being around the world. Whether we are working on issues related to climate change, child health, or any other topic, our team is committed to rigorous academic research, education, and advocacy to create positive change.
Academia
Academia is a core aspect of our group, and we’re proud to contribute to research that focuses on the impact of racism and discrimination on health. Our goal is to deliver research contributions with practical implications that can help drive solutions for health disparities. We are committed to utilising innovative research techniques to generate top-quality evidence that positively influences policies and programs concerned with social justice.
Current
Projects
The Lancet Commission on racism and child health
November 2023
The relationship between our health, our identities, our environments, and the sociopolitical contexts we face are complex. Racism, xenophobia, and discrimination inform and propel these relationships, resulting in health inequtiies for those who experience minoritisation. Children are not exempt from this process, yet more must be understood to parse apart these relationships so that we can promote their right to health. The Lancet Commission on racism and child health seeks to understand and develop evidence-based solutions to reduce health disparities among children from minoritised communities.
Envisioning Environmental Equity (EEE)
December 2021 - Present
Climate change has been led by people in high-income countries, while the ‘most affected people and areas’ (MAPA) burden its consequences. EEE hopes to create climate and health work that centres racial justice, which means our efforts to reduce the negative impacts of climate change must be free from discrimination and anti-oppressive. The Envisioning Environmental Equity Collaborative is a joint effort that seeks to raise awareness about climate and health justice using an anti-racist, anti-colonial approach to climate action. We use film, comics, podcasts, webinars, and more to explore this nexus.
CHAI Exchange Programme
September 2023
Climate change has a profound impact on health, and these impacts fall disproportionately on communities that face racism, xenophobia, colonial violence, and environmental racism. This means the way forward must tackle structural violence in order to create meaningful climate action. Young people are the future of this movement, and can serve as powerful changemakers that promote innovative solutions to climate change.
The CHAI Exchange Programme is a Peer learning programme designed to support young peoples’ efforts towards the climate justice movement by way of health and racial justice.