tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1509187841033628660.post1235742168069871743..comments2024-03-28T22:28:39.087-07:00Comments on Medicine and Social Justice: Black men being killed by police: A public health epidemicJosh Freemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10248920527894775520noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1509187841033628660.post-1487620162384871332017-11-16T08:35:46.928-07:002017-11-16T08:35:46.928-07:00The post's focus rightly highlights the centra...The post's focus rightly highlights the centrality of racial inequality and discrimination in our institutional structures of population and social control. As we know from volumes of research, the manifestation and internalization of discriminatory practices and bias has serious implications for public health, and not just for the individual targets of these practices. I think the implications for public health can go further, however, than police killings of Black men. The mere presence of police and the knowledge of their actions has created an environment of intimidation and harassment, for all of the reasons noted, and more. So, the stress associated with the ever-present threat to Black men, women, children, communities, organizations as well as to other racialized groups requires consideration as part of this epidemic of intimidation. The predatory activity of violence against Black men is the tip of the iceberg and certainly the most extreme manifestation of this public health threat. As an older white middle-class woman I should have less to be concerned about with police interactions, but that is not the case: I am concerned about driving my car and being cited for a small, harmless infraction; standing up for an injustice in my local community and being targeted as an accomplice to something; needing to be vigilant about police actions that threaten everyday freedoms of community members; the effects of excessive force and intimidation practices on the families and children of my closest relationships. But all of this is not so easily measured, more readily experienced.MaryAnn Sorensen Allaccihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04360917627983321175noreply@blogger.com