Black Lives Matter and Health Equity

Black Lives Matter and Health Equity

“Like Black Lives and Black Minds, Black Life Matters”

The California Black Health Network (CBHN) supports the Black Lives Matter movement and joins in its commitment in the fight for Freedom, Liberation and Justice for all Black people.

Now, more than ever, CBHN will advocate for Racial Justice, Social Justice, and Environmental Justice to help create a world where Black lives are no longer systematically targeted for demise. CBHN is committed to ensuring that for Black Californians:

• Our health is our first priority.
• Our health is a movement, requiring systemic change in our communities, institutions, organizations and in public policy.
• Benefit from health policies that positively impact maternal health, oral health, and mental health, and economic development

As the statewide advocate for Black Health Equity across California, the California Black Health Network (CBHN) strongly believes in driving policies that promote greater economic security and equity. The opportunities provided through affirmative action policies, like Proposition 16, increase the racial and ethnic diversity of California’s health care workforce, which is critical to addressing health disparities in our communities resulting from racial bias.

As our country and state continues to reckon with racial and social injustice and other inequities, we must acknowledge the crucial need for affirmative action policies and accountability. We must acknowledge that the issue of affirmative action is a matter of equity.

Due to systemic and structural racism, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities do not experience the same level of opportunity in health, education, and employment as our White counterparts. America has made some strides over the past few decades, but until we reach the point where everyone has equal access to opportunities, we must continue to strive toward achieving equity.

Thus, CBHN will continue to advocate for policies that improve the health of Black Californians, remove barriers that create inequities, and dismantle systemic and structural racism that has plagued our communities for far too long.