Margaret Heckler: The Beginnings of *Colored* Public Health
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“In 1984, Margaret Heckler, then Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), dissatisfied with the way health disparities were being reported to Congress, provided the first comprehensive review of health disparities endured by black and minority groups, compared with whites; the report laid the foundations for action to eliminate these disparities through health education, promotion, and access to health care. One of the most significant outcomes of the 1985 Report of the Secretary’s Task Force on Black and Minority Health, also known as the Heckler Report, was the creation of the Office of Minority Health in 1986, with the mission “to improve the health or racial and ethnic minority populations through the development of health policies and programs that will eliminate health disparities.” The Heckler Report called health disparities among minority groups an affront both to our ideals and to the ongoing genius of American medicine [4,5].”
[JENNIFER’S RESPONSE]
Healthcare in our country is a very complex topic, especially now. The Heckler Report serves as a reminder that minorities still are not receiving accurate representation in the simple documentation of their health status. Margaret Heckler is a perfect example of what it means to be an ally. While the Black Project Foundations main focuses are within minority communities, it is important that we are still creating connections with people who have more power than us and understand the importance of becoming our allies.
[STANLEY’S RESPONSE]
The first thing that comes to mind when reading this quote is that a white woman had to shine a light on disparities within marginalized communities. Health disparities have been present for a while, but it wasn’t until Margaret Heckler called attention to them, that something was done. It is important that we stand up for people from different identities and backgrounds who are suffering from these disparities. I hope the Black Project can be a resource in this initiative of “calling attention” and dismantling health disparities. This time it is from black people, to black people.
Source from: https://publichealthreviews.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40985-016-0025
