1619: “Medicine,” by Linda Villarosa
“This is how Black people get killed.”
Happy Monday and welcome to Week 18! Hope you are having a good weekend. It’s time to get back to reading. Here’s our schedule.
This week, let’s read “Medicine,” by Linda Villarosa. The essay explores the roots of why Black Americans face worse health outcomes than white Americans, from higher rates of infant mortality and Covid-19 and diabetes and hypertension, alongside lower life expectancy and lower quality of care.
Ms. Villarosa writes:
It’s never been race that predicts the disease and disability that disproportionally afflict Black Americans, but racism. Until we come to terms with the discrimination and inequality in American medicine, Black people will continue to be harmed by the very system that’s supposed to take care of them.
This week
Read “Medicine,” by Linda Villarosa.
Optional: If there’s a friend or family member who has expressed interest in reading The 1619 Project, buy them a copy.
Also, please feel free to reach out. Let me know if you need anything or want to chat. All you need to do is hit reply. Thank you and have a great week!