JUST HEALTH by Dayna Bowen Matthew is to be published later this month by New York University Press and takes a more sophisticated and academic look at "Treating Structural Racism to Heal America." Matthew, a Dean and Professor of Law at the George Washington University Law School, argues that poverty, prejudice and poor health are "afflictions of structural inequality" which she defines as "the deliberately and unintentionally constructed disruptions that a society uses to systematically displace humans from standing on equal footing in life." She draws on extensive research (more than ten percent of the book is devoted to notes and references) to explore geographic and demographic differences in chapters related to legal issues, housing, education, and healthcare. A final chapter outlines proposals for solutions and policy reform. Inequitable healthcare, both for women and people of color, is a topic of high interest for this year's Junior Themers, many of whom are reading related texts such as Doing Harm and Seeing Patients.

This book is full of information. Like JAM-PACKED. A lot of important historical and extensive epidemiological research went into this and it shows. It’s not the smoothest reading experience as this reads a bit like a textbook but it’s a very valuable resource for people who do the work of creating safe and healthy communities to get into. I was able to read this through #Netgalley.

I think people who teach public health at universities or are interested in working in health policy should read this especially.

Excited to read this book by @lawdeanmatthew. So timely and an honest look at how the passing of her father and many in his generation was not merely due to individual health flaws, but generation systemic racial burdens that chip away at lifespans and carry forward domino effects for their offspring. #DaynaBowenMatthew #JustHealth #NetGalley