Necessary Conversations: Understanding Racism as a Barrier to Achieving Health Equity
Free E-Book

DOI: 10.1093/oso/9780197641477.001.0001
ISBN 978–0–19–764147–7
From the Blog
Necessary Conversations: Talking Frankly About Race
Engaging in honest dialogue about race sometimes means lowering our defenses and acknowledging our feelings so we can walk together toward racial equity.
We need to talk about race.
The story of our nation is one of justice and freedom, but the unspoken truth is too many people are shut out of equal opportunities because of the color of their skin. Civil Rights laws and advocacy movements have brought racial inequities to light, but have not solved urgent problems caused by structural racism. This inequity has led to wide-scale poorer health outcomes and shorter life spans.
Structural racism refers to the persistence of inequity in communities of color while others benefit from a disproportionately larger share of the nation’s resources. There is indisputable evidence that the impacts of this inequity are generational. Structural racism has led to a lack of basic healthcare, education, housing, and other needs for too many in our nation.
Authentic conversations about racial inequities are essential, difficult, and urgent. There are many forces that prevent people from talking about racism. Without honest reflections on race and the history of this nation, conversation and narratives often generate unproductive fear, shame, guilt, avoidance, and denial. We need to move past that to a place of healing and action. A book by RWJF’s chief science officer, Dr. Alonzo Plough, shows us how.
Editor's Note: We incorrectly named the Central Park bird watcher George Cooper. His name is Christian Cooper.
Live Webinar—Book Talk: Necessary Conversations
Participants joined Dr. Alonzo Plough as he modeled how to talk about structural racism. The webinar offered insight into health equity as the operational focus on the Foundation’s work. Watch the webinar recording to understand how:
RWJF is embracing new research and evaluation strategies to measure solutions
Important it is to elevate the importance of narrative change
- To create space for those with lived experiences to drive decision making
This webinar will be available in Spanish and English, and will be recorded for on-demand use through RWJF’s Communications Toolbox.
Necessary Conversations: Understanding Racism as a Barrier to Advancing Health Equity is edited by Alonzo L. Plough, PhD, MPH, VP, Research-Evaluation-Learning and Chief Science Officer, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
The book, published by Oxford University Press, features a diverse set of voices, including Nikole Hannah-Jones, a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, Derrick Johnson, president and CEO of NAACP, Crystal Echo Hawk of IllumiNative, Gail Christopher, executive director, National Collaborative for Health Equity, among many other esteemed thinkers and doers.
The book is organized in three sections:
Working together, we can dismantle harmful and inequitable structures of the past, so everyone has a fair and just opportunity for a brighter, thriving future ahead.
Other books in the series include:
- Knowledge to Action: Accelerating Progress in Health, Well-Being, and Equity
- Advancing Health and Well-Being: Using Evidence and Collaboration to Achieve Health Equity
- Well-Being: Expanding the Definition of Progress
- Culture of Health in Practice: Innovations in Research, Community Engagement, and Action
- Community Resilience: Innovation, Engagement, and Equity