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City of East Lansing Resolution Declaring Racism As A Public Health Crisis

The City Council of East Lansing passed a resolution declaring racism a public health crisis. The resolution recognizes that racism has negatively impacted the health and well-being of Black communities through issues like poverty, poor access to healthcare and education, and stress. It commits the city to dismantling systemic racism, promoting racial equity, supporting anti-racism training, and reviewing efforts to address health disparities caused by racism on an annual basis.

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2K views3 pages

City of East Lansing Resolution Declaring Racism As A Public Health Crisis

The City Council of East Lansing passed a resolution declaring racism a public health crisis. The resolution recognizes that racism has negatively impacted the health and well-being of Black communities through issues like poverty, poor access to healthcare and education, and stress. It commits the city to dismantling systemic racism, promoting racial equity, supporting anti-racism training, and reviewing efforts to address health disparities caused by racism on an annual basis.

Uploaded by

WILX Krystle
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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City of East Lansing

RESOLUTION DECLARING RACISM AS A PUBLIC HEALTH


CRISIS IN EAST LANSING
November 24, 2020
WHEREAS, Race is a social construct with no basis in human biology and was
created to uphold a system of oppression for Black and Brown People; and,
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, the City Council of the City of East Lansing believes in the sanctity,
dignity and worth of all human beings; and,
WHEREAS, we recognize that Black People have not enjoyed these freedoms and
that the abridgment of these freedoms have caused harm to the physical and mental
wellbeing of Black People; and,
WHEREAS, racism and social inequities is a heinous social system with multiple
dimensions: it is internalized or interpersonal; it is systemic, institutional or
structural; and, it is a system of structuring opportunity, advantage and assigning value
and worth based on how one looks or social status; and,

WHEREAS, racism and social inequities unfairly disadvantages specific individuals


and communities, and saps the strength of the whole society through the waste of
human resources; and,

WHEREAS, we recognize the City of East Lansing’s collective prosperity depends


upon the equitable access to opportunity for every resident regardless of the color of
their skin or social status; and,

WHEREAS, racism has been estimated to cost the American economy $20 trillion; and,

WHEREAS, racism and social inequities causes persistent discrimination and


disparate outcomes in many areas of life, including housing, education, employment
and criminal justice; and emerging body of research demonstrates that racism itself is
a social determinant of health; and,

WHEREAS, Black people in particular suffer from more stress because of experiences
with racism. That stress can lead to major health problems such as hypertension,
high blood pressure and heart disease; and,

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WHERAS, Racism, not race is often a root cause of poverty, homelessness,
unemployment, poor nutrition, violence and mental health concerns for Black
people. Racism was not dismantled with the end of slavery; and,
WHERAS, Decades of housing practices and government policies have helped lower
life expectancy among Black Americans and increased infant mortality rates; and,
WHEREAS, Racism, including unconscious and conscious bias, causes persistent
racial discrimination in Criminal Justice, Social Capital, Voter Suppression,
Education, Transportation, Employment, Food Access, Mental Health and Health
Behaviors, Socioeconomic Status, Environmental Exposure, Access to Health
Services, Housing and Public Safety; and,
WHEREAS, it has been proven that racism is linked to worse health outcomes for
Black People most recently highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic but
demonstrated in the high rates of infant mortality, maternal death, breast cancer,
prostate cancer, colon cancer, hypertension, mental health crisis and diabetes in Black
Communities; and,
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of East Lansing is committed to dismantling
those systemic structures that undermine the health of Black People; and,
WHEREAS, studies show the disproportionate challenges facing our nation and
community because of racism and inequities in the areas of healthcare, education and
economic mobility; and,

WHEREAS, the East Lansing City Council do hereby declare Racism a Public Health
Crisis.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the East Lansing City Council that the City
of East Lansing will do the following:

1. Declare that Racism is a public health crisis affecting our entire country.
2. Work to progress as an equity and anti-racist organization,
3. Work with the East Lansing City Council and staff leadership to identify
specific activities to further enhance diversity and to ensure antiracism
principles across the City of East Lansing’s leadership, staffing and
contracting.
4. Promote equity through all policies approved by the East Lansing City
Council and enhance educational efforts aimed at understanding,
addressing and dismantling racism and how it affects the delivery of human
and social services, economic development and public safety.

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5. Continue to advocate locally and through the various organizations of
associations for relevant policies that improve health in communities of
color, and supports local, state, regional, and federal initiatives that advance
efforts to dismantle systemic racism.
6. Further work to solidify alliances and partnerships with other organizations
that are confronting racism and encourage other local, state, regional and
national entities to recognize racism as a public health crisis.
7. Support community efforts to amplify issues of racism and engage actively
and authentically with Black Indigenous People of Color.
8. Continue on-going racial equity training with the goal of reaching all
leadership and staff.
9. Encourage racial equity training among all community partners, grantees,
vendors and contractors.
10. Commit to preserve the DEI administrative role as a permanent position
within the city government
11. Conduct an annual review of the declarations and commitments listed in this
resolution on racism as a public health crisis across the various governmental
bodies by the DEI administration in partnership with the Human Relations
Committee, and all other appropriate boards and commissions.
12. Acknowledge and adopt the United Nations declaration of March 25 as an
international day of remembrance for victims of the Trans-Atlantic slave
passage.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the East Lansing City Council supports all
additional efforts in the City of East Lansing and the State of Michigan, and
nationwide to address public health disparities due to Racism.

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