Award-Winning Journalist Linda Villarosa on Health and Racism at Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg

(St. Petersburg, Florida – December 12, 2024) – Acclaimed journalist and author Linda Villarosa, a contributor to the New York Times Magazine and a 2023 Pulitzer Prize finalist, spoke to a crowd of more than 150 community members at the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg  (Foundation) on Tuesday, December 10.

As part of the Foundation’s popular Speakers Who Inspire series, Villarosa shared insights from her groundbreaking book, Under the Skin: The Hidden Toll of Racism on American Lives and on the Health of Our Nation.

“Our Speakers Who Inspire series brings preeminent thought leaders to our community to elevate our efforts to advance racially equitable health outcomes,” said Foundation President and CEO Dr. Kanika Tomalin. “Through such experiences we gain a deeper understanding of the role race and racism play in our society – and in our health – and we learn how we may make a difference by improving the systems and conditions that shape our outcomes.”

Tuesday’s event with Villarosa explored the critical connection between health and systemic racism, shedding light on how entrenched structural biases in healthcare and society that continue to harm Black Americans. Her talk also offered a unique opportunity to learn from and engage with a national expert about the deep-rooted challenges that continue to affect public health and the lives of Black Americans.

“The easiest way to say it is Black Americans live sicker and die quicker than anyone else, from the beginning of life to the end,” Villarosa shared in her talk at the Foundation. “There are three reasons. One, battling discrimination in society harms Black people and creates a kind of premature aging that leads to poorer health outcomes, and it often shows up in birth. The second is centuries of sanctioned discrimination has made Black communities less healthy and less healthful. Finally, racism and discrimination in the medical system itself harms Black people.”

Nationally and locally, data confirms that a Black woman with a college degree is more likely to die in childbirth than a white woman with less than a high school diploma. Studies have also shown that a high-income Black woman and a poor white woman have the same mortality rates the first year after childbirth.

Drawing from years of research and reporting, Villarosa addressed in her talk a range of issues, including:

“Linda Villarosa’s work shines a light on the critical intersection of health and racism, making clear the toll racism takes on people’s health and the health of our community,” Tomalin shared. “We’re so grateful to be able to host learning opportunities and conversations like these for our community. We’re hopeful the dialogue we shared can spark deeper engagement, conversation, and change.”

Linda Villarosa has long been a leading voice in health journalism, with her work focusing on the intersection of health and race. As a former executive editor of Essence magazine and a recipient of numerous prestigious awards from organizations including The American Medical Writers’ Association and The Arthur Ashe Institute, Villarosa brings a wealth of experience and perspective. Her book Under the Skin was named one of the best books of 2022 by six major publications, including NPR and The Washington Post, and was honored as one of the top 10 books of 2022 by The New York Times.