Black and African Americans
“Black and African Americans” is a phrase used to describe a diverse array of people. Racial and ethnic identities—and the language surrounding them—are continuously evolving, both generationally and through nuanced self-identification. Generally, the term Black denotes a racial identification, while African American refers to an ethnicity, specifically Americans with ancestry from one or more of the African continent’s Black racial groups. Historically, the term Black American referred to people of African descent with dark skin. In modern contexts, however, Black identity is not inherently tied to dark skin or specifically African descent. Black people may have light skin, or identify as Afro-Caribbean, Indigenous Australian, or Melanesian.
Since 1619, Black and African Americans have created, developed, engineered, built, written, composed, taught, researched, and led some of the most important foundations of U.S. history, culture, and technology. They have also been systematically exploited, excluded, and killed to further the unearned advantage of white Americans. From health disparities and wage gaps, to voter suppression, police brutality, redlining, environmental racism, and the adultification of Black children, Black lives have been consistently valued less by our society despite their immense contributions. Some of the most marginalized include disabled, LGBTQ+, and economically poor Black people.
In recent years, increasing momentum fueled by Black activism and the Black Lives Matter movement has pushed Black and African Americans to the forefront of social justice and advocacy. Even with the more direct spotlight, however, efforts often fall short of recognizing and addressing the compound effects of intersecting marginalizations, such as police violence against disabled Black people, inappropriate school discipline for Black girls, and fatal violence targeting transgender Black women. Black activism and allyship also remain controversial in many spaces and communities due to persisting stereotypes, discrimination, and anti-Black racism.
Achieving health equity and racial justice for Black and African Americans requires deeply uprooting racist systems that perpetuate their exploitation and abuse. Institutionalizing and operationalizing equity and justice throughout all leadership levels of all sectors will require organizations, allies, and systems to deeply center and follow the leadership of people with lived experience. Community-led processes, self-representation, and centering Black voices are a few effective tactics communities can leverage to advance equity and well-being for Black and African Americans.
Resources & Tools
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Black Americans Have a Clear Vision for Reducing Racism but Little Hope It Will Happen
Resource - Report
Brought to you by The Pew Charitable Trusts
Clinicians’ Racial Biases as Pathways to Iatrogenic Harms for Black People
Resource - Journal Article
Black Lives Matter: A Commentary on Racism and Public Health
Resource - Journal Article
Brought to you by APHA
Personal Experiences of U.S. Racial/Ethnic Minorities in Today’s Difficult Times
Resource - Report
Brought to you by RWJF
Investing in the Frontlines: Why Trusting and Supporting Communities of Color Will Help Address Gun Violence
Resource - Journal Article
Vaccinating Black Californians Through Faith Communities
Resource - Case Study
Brought to you by PHI
The First Community Health Center in Mississippi: Communities Empowering Themselves
Resource - Journal Article
Increasing School Connectedness for Girls: Restorative Justice as a Health Equity Resource
Resource - Policy Brief
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Racial and ethnic disparities in assisted reproductive technology outcomes in the United States
Resource - Journal Article
How Land Banks and Community Land Trusts Can Partner for Racial Justice
Resource - Blog
Brought to you by Nonprofit Quarterly
Resource Guide: Operationalizing Anti-Racism, Social Justice, and Health Equity Principles through Performance Improvement
Resource - Guide/handbook
Brought to you by NNPHI
In Seattle, Protests Over Racial Equity Turn to Land Ownership
Story - Written
Brought to you by Bloomberg L.P.
Published on 07/14/2020
Bearing the Burden: How racism-related stress hurts America’s black mothers and babies
Story
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Original
Brought to you by Community Commons
Published on 10/02/2018
The Forgotten History of Black Education in America
Story - Written
Brought to you by FC
Published on 02/15/2023
What It Looks Like to Reconnect Black Communities Torn Apart by Highways
Story - Written
Brought to you by Bloomberg L.P.
Centering Black Voices: Interview with Radiah Shabazz
Story - Written
Brought to you by Community Commons
Trend Bending Policies for Advancing Racial Justice: Ending Police Violence
Story - Written
Brought to you by Community Commons
The Black History of Public Health: From Legacies of Racism and Resistance to Futures of Equity and Justice
Story
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Original
Brought to you by Community Commons
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Taking Action to End Gun Violence: Our Top Tools, Resources, Stories, and Data
Story
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Original
Brought to you by Community Commons
Promoting Health Equity in Rural Communities
Story - Written
Brought to you by ChangeLab Solutions
Published on 12/13/2022
No Justice, No Peace of Mind and Body: The Health Impacts of Housing Insecurity for Black Women
Story - Written
Brought to you by Nonprofit Quarterly
MRI Scans Reveal Disparate Impact of Poverty and Other ‘Toxic Stress’ on Brains of Black Children
Story - Written
Brought to you by STAT
4 Black Female Judges Use Their Courtrooms to Break the School-to-Prison Pipeline
Story - Written
Brought to you by Yes! Magazine
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