Racism and Health – Science and Research

To understand the broad impact of racism on health, we must examine the evidence. A growing body of research from leading organizations demonstrates that racism itself—above and beyond other social determinants of health—negatively impacts health outcomes.

We will continue to document the problem but, joining with many groups across a broad range of disciplines and interests, we are also expanding this work to identify interventions that correct the resulting health inequities and disparities.

On this page, we feature publications highlighting key science and policy efforts, as well as interventions that address racism, health, and health equity. Our goal is to better understand the adverse health effects of racism, share the latest scientific methods, identify solutions, and, ultimately, improve and save lives.

• Confronting Institutionalized Racism
• Achieving Health Equity by Addressing Social Determinants of Health
• Violence-Related Disparities Experienced by Black Youth and Young Adults: Opportunities for Prevention
• Addressing Health Equity in Public Health Practice: Frameworks, Promising Strategies, and Measurement Considerations
• CDC COVID-19 Response Health Equity Strategy

• Racism and Health I: Pathways and Scientific Evidence
• Racism: Science & Tools for the Public Health Professional
• Racism, the Public Health Crisis We Can No Longer Ignore
• Structural Racism and Health Inequities in the USA: Evidence and Interventions
• Measures of Racism, Sexism, Heterosexism, and Gender Binarism for Health Equity Research: From Structural Injustice to Embodied Harm-An Ecosocial Analysis