I am heartbroken and angry by the killing of George Floyd & other unarmed black men. We say, “Black lives matter”
while acting as though they do not. Our nation is caught in the grip of pervasive, systemic racism that is
deadly to people of color.

The events we see in the news make up the tip of a large, mostly hidden iceberg. Racism is a cancer that kills in ways that are not always apparent.

Life-expectancy for a black child born in 2017 is about 75 years, compared to 79 years for a white child. Black Americans have higher rates of diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, stroke, and death from cancer.

Infant mortality rate and maternal mortality rate, indicators of population health, are both more
than twice as high for black Americans as they are for white Americans.

Chronic stress contributes to poor health. Chronic stress is like the flight or fight reaction, but low intensity and constant. Life is stressful when you are judged by the color of your skin. It is hard to find peace if your children are hurt, physically or emotionally.

When you are accosted for shopping, jogging, driving, bird watching, or just being while black, the stress of remaining calm comes with a price to your mental and physical health.

Like many of you, I want to help – to find solutions, to ease the pain, to make our world a little better for
all of us. I cannot change people’s hearts and minds; if I could, I would banish all hatred and racism.

I can advocate for policies and laws that make our cities, state, and nation more just and equitable places to
live, work, and play, and I can vote accordingly. I hope you will join me.