Resolution advances decrying racism as public health threat
Measure ready for floor vote in Tennessee House
The Tennessee House is advancing a resolution decrying racism as a “public health threat,” a measure now ready to move to a floor vote.
House Joint Resolution 10, brought by Rep. Antonio Parkinson, D-memphis, describes the American Medical Association’s adoption of a policy last year recognizing racism as such. The organization committed to “dismantling racist policies and practices across all of health care.”
The advancement of Parkinson’s resolution comes as a surprise in light of previous failed measures filed by Democrats related to racism — including unsuccessful resolutions introduced in recent years by Rep. John Ray Clemmons, D-nashville, to denounce white nationalists and neo-nazis.
The resolution describes racism, in AMA’S terms, as “a structural and legalized system that results in differential access to goods and services, including healthcare services,” as well as the organization’s newfound commitment to confront “police brutality.”
Parkinson noted the disproportionate COVID-19 fatality rates among African Americans.
“A lot of the individuals that died were dying because they had preexisting conditions,” Parkinson said. “What this is saying is that we’re going to do everything we can to address those areas, address those gaps.”
Multiple Republican members of the committee, including Rep. Tom Leatherwood of Arlington and Rep. Ryan Williams of Cookeville, questioned what the action items are the legislature was agreeing to if they adopted the measure. The resolution ends by saying the General Assembly will “commit ourselves to openly and honestly addressing racism to end areas of disparity and inequity.”
Parkinson said Tennessee has already begun work to address inequalities in health care for people of color, such as having a state Office of Minority Health and Disparities Elimination.
The resolution passed by a voice vote.