A personable, story-driven explanation of why and how our public health system must change, and how anyone—even and especially non-experts—can make a difference

Healthcare is one of America’s most dysfunctional and confusing industries, and most of the system seems designed to keep people sick. While we may know that racism impacts health outcomes, most of us don’t know exactly how or why—and we certainly don’t know what to do about it.

Dr. Monica Wang is a leading expert in health equity research and Chair of the Narrative Office at the BU Center for Antiracist Research. Her childhood experience as a bussing student in Boston’s METCO program shaped her decision to pursue a career in health equity—and her first-hand interviews with other folks of color catalyzed a larger realization for her: we need resources to show people how we can improve this issue directly within our own communities.

With this goal in mind, Dr. Wang tells the stories of three women of color alongside her own:

• Marielis, a first-generation Dominican America college student from the Bronx
• Dorothy, a semi-retired African American woman living in rural Alabama
• Rosa, an Indigenous social worker who grew up on the Texas-Mexico border

The book includes a comprehensive exploration of the history of social determinants of public health, the role communication plays in health outcomes, and highlights evidence-based interventions on a local, national, and global scale. Especially in a moment when we can’t expect the federal government to weigh in usefully, the smaller-scale recommendations will be invaluable.