Declaring racism a public health crisis entails linking the effects of racism with the crushing chronic stress and poor health it causes. A difficult task in a country like America whose foundation and wealth has been built on, and sustained by, anti-Black racism. “When you use the R-word (racism), people run-Dr. Georges Benjamin (executive director of the American Public Health Association). “They think, no I’m not a racist” and that’s because they only understand it in the personalized racism bucket; they don’t understand structural racism.” Racism extends well beyond name-calling and overtly bigoted acts.