Health Inequity Exposé: The Rhetoric of Racism as a Public Health Crisis

Introduction: Framing Racism through Healthcare Rhetoric

Racism is increasingly recognized not only as a social injustice but also as a critical determinant of health outcomes in the United States (Ramsoondar). The ways in which racism is discussed in public discourse shape how policymakers, healthcare institutions, and the public understand its impact on health. In her 2020 article “Toward a Cure: Cities Declare Racism a Public Health Crisis,” Tamara E. Holmes reframes racism as a health imperative and builds a case for reconstructing healthcare systems to address racial disparities. Through her careful selection of language and purposeful tone, Holmes argues that systemic racism is not only a social injustice, but also a severe public health crisis that threatens the welfare of marginalized groups.

Rhetoric is often defined in the Aristotelian sense as the strategic use of language to persuade, inform, or motivate an audience (Rapp). There are various interpretations of rhetoric based on discourse, power structures, or cultural production (Yazdannik); however, this manuscript builds upon this classical framework as a foundation to examine the ways language functions in healthcare contexts. The primary aim of rhetoric in healthcare in most contexts is to shape how health issues are interpreted and how institutions respond to them. Yet, the definition of healthcare rhetoric has remained highly debated in the field. Scholars have used a variety of terms to describe it, including “healthcare rhetoric,” “medical rhetoric,” or more general “rhetorics of health and medicine,” with each of these emphasizing a slightly different focus, ranging from clinical interactions to broader public and cultural conversations (Heifferon and Brown; Melonçon). This extensive deliberation is a sign of an ongoing attempt to define the field’s boundaries and to expand its relevance to practitioners, policymakers, and patients.

In this analysis, healthcare rhetoric refers to the study of how language, policy discourse, and persuasive framing affect institutional practices and public perceptions of health issues. Researchers have demonstrated that public perception and institutional reactions can be influenced by how healthcare systems address problems like care access (Melino et al.). In a similar way, discussions of structural competency argue that social and political structures have a significant impact on health outcomes and that acknowledging these influences necessitates deliberate framing within healthcare discourse (Hansen and Metzl). These rhetorical decisions have an impact on whether systemic issues or individual behavior are blamed for health disparities. According to Holmes’s article, this rhetoric is influenced by the political and social environment, especially the increasing acknowledgement of racism as a public health issue.

Yes magazine is a nonprofit publisher that focuses on solutions journalism, aiming to address big social problems by highlighting structural and systemic change. The mission lines up with Holmes’s support for healthcare reform and her efforts to call out racial injustice. The magazine’s commitment to fairness and accountability connects with Holmes's writing style and the topics she covers. With nearly 20 years of experience as a journalist, Homes has written about issues like economic justice, personal finance, and equity. Her work shows a strong dedication to creating opportunities for underrepresented communities. She’s written many pieces that expose racial injustice, especially in healthcare, which add depth and credibility to her article.

Holmes’s article is an excellent example of social justice-oriented healthcare rhetoric, designed to educate the public about healthcare practices to create desire to strive for equitable changes in healthcare policy, to improve both morbidity and mortality (Stabile). In her writing, Holmes uses rhetorical strategies to make her message more powerful and relatable. She blends personal stories with historical facts to show how racism affects people’s health. She also uses statistics and policy examples to back up her points and push for change. Holmes’s use of language to convey urgency and empathy, her emphasis on systemic responsibility over individual blame, and her appeals for policy reform shape how readers understand racism’s impact on health. This analysis interprets Holmes’s article as a persuasive contribution to the ongoing discussion on health equity, building her argument within a broader societal and historical context.

Holmes’s article was published during a period of heightened national attention to racial injustice in the United States. In May 2020, the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer sparked widespread protests and conversations about systemic racism across the country (May). This gave rise to a larger racial justice movement that addressed systemic injustices in housing, healthcare, education, and law enforcement. As a reaction to the massive demonstrations that followed George Floyd's murder, a number of states and cities during this time formally declared racism to be a public health emergency. Press conferences in Milwaukee, Boston, and even the entire state of Michigan declared racism to be a public emergency (Mendez). American citizens themselves spearheaded this effort to demand change and promote community advocacy (American Public Health Association). Holmes places her argument within this social and political movement by framing racism as a systemic threat through language related to public health.