The board voted to declare racism a public health crisis in Hennepin County.
Due to racism, Black, Indigenous and people of color in Hennepin County statistically have poorer educational outcomes, earn less, and are less likely to own homes or have access to quality health care and jobs than White people. These disparities have lifelong impacts, including higher disease rates, and, as we’re seeing now, higher rates of COVID-19.
Naming racism as a systemic cause to disparities is key to continue to move this work forward.