Celebrating Juneteenth and Supporting Black Lives
As The John A. Hartford Foundation observes Juneteenth, which marks the day in 1865 when African Americans learned they had been freed from slavery, we reflect solemnly on the Black lives lost to police brutality, the devastatingly disproportionate rate at which Black Americans have died during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the four centuries of racial inequality that define our nation.
At the same time, we celebrate the resilience, self-liberation, and cultural and civic impact of the Black community, looking optimistically to the social upheaval of this historic point in time as an opportunity to establish a new era of justice in America.
In the spirit of the day, we are sharing the following messages and resources:
- Community Catalyst, a national health care consumer advocacy coalition, offers concrete suggestions on how to support the Movement for Black Lives and other black-led groups.
- Best Practices For White-Led Organizations To Promote Health Equity And Racial Justice In Health Advocacy is a useful guide for any organization.
- The Center to Advance Palliative Care has released a detailed analysis of COVID-19-related health and health care inequities for African Americans and palliative care's role in caring for impacted patients and families. A number of tools for addressing implicit bias and racial inequities are offered.
- The Institute for Healthcare Improvement has written about the need for clinician self-reflection and commitment to treating racism and how Age-Friendly Health Systems could help move us toward more equitable health care.
The Foundation's office will be closed early to mark the day and we look forward to continuing our work with all of you to build a more just society.
