Make America Healthy Again? Start With Health Equity

If we want to "make America healthy again," we can’t continue to ignore the systemic barriers that stand in the way.

Since Trump popularized “Make America Great Again,” there’s been a new rallying cry: “Make America Healthy Again.” It sounds good, right? But without a focus on health equity, it’s just another empty slogan—more lip service in a system that already fails millions of Americans every day. If we want actual progress, we can’t keep overlooking the core factor that could improve our nation’s health: equitable healthcare for all.

At Enhance Black Women’s Health (EBWH), we’ve embraced a clear mission to address this challenge. I’m here to support healthcare providers and advocates like you on the journey toward a more equitable system. Our goal is to raise awareness, provide education, and support the implementation of practices that ensure every patient, especially those from marginalized communities, receives the quality care they deserve. 

If we want to make America healthy again, we can’t ignore the systemic barriers that stand in the way.

The solution isn’t just about changing policies or practices; it’s about rethinking our approach to health and healthcare. Doing that requires education by those who can say it much better than I can. Here are three essential reads to deepen your understanding and inspire practical change:

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1. Fearing the Black Body by Dr. Sabrina Strings

Dr. Sabrina Strings’ Fearing the Black Body takes a powerful and eye-opening look at the roots of fat phobia in America. More than a critique of body image, it’s an exploration of how healthcare’s bias against Black bodies has evolved over centuries. Strings trace this bias back to colonial times, connecting it to the birth of the Body Mass Index (BMI) and showing how these biases continue to influence healthcare today. 

Strings reveal that our healthcare system hasn’t always been objective or science-driven; it’s also been influenced by social biases. As healthcare providers, acknowledging these historical biases is the first step toward providing truly equitable care. This book isn’t just an analysis—it’s a call to examine how we view and treat patients of different races, shapes, and sizes.

2. Legacy by Dr. Uché Blackstock

If you’re wondering why health equity has been so challenging, Legacy by Dr. Uché Blackstock offers a sobering answer. Through her personal experiences and historical insights, Blackstock reveals how deeply entrenched racism affects every healthcare system level. From the closure of Black medical schools after the Flexner Report to her own experiences as a Black physician, Legacy exposes the racial barriers that prevent equitable care, not only for patients but also for healthcare professionals.

This book is essential reading for anyone committed to health equity. Blackstock’s story sheds light on the systemic racism that exists within healthcare institutions and illustrates how these issues prevent us from building a diverse, empathetic, and culturally competent workforce. She inspires us to work actively toward breaking these barriers, showing that dismantling discrimination isn’t just moral—it’s essential for creating a healthier society.

3. The Body Liberation Project by Chrissy King

Awareness and education are crucial but only enough with meaningful action. Chrissy King’s The Body Liberation Project provides an empowering framework for challenging personal and societal biases. King’s book takes a practical, hands-on approach, showing readers how to confront biases related to race, body size, and health. Her writing exercises push readers to examine their beliefs and adopt new, inclusive perspectives that help us see health beyond rigid stereotypes.

King’s approach is transformative because it illustrates that our biases affect how we treat others—whether we’re healthcare providers or individuals trying to be more mindful. Changing how we think about health and bodies creates a ripple effect, allowing us to offer care and respect to patients regardless of appearance. The Body Liberation Project is a roadmap for every healthcare provider aiming to build empathy and practice genuine inclusivity.

Our healthcare system can’t change until we face the truths in these books: biases are built into its very fabric and hold us back from creating a healthier America. If we want to “make America healthy again,” we must go beyond temporary solutions or political buzzwords. Actual change will only come when we’re willing to educate ourselves, confront uncomfortable truths, and work toward systemic reform.

This isn’t just about treating illness—it’s about cultivating a healthcare system where everyone, especially Black women and other marginalized groups, receives the respect, compassion, and quality care they deserve. Only by striving toward health equity can we create a healthier society where all patients thrive and are treated with dignity.

Are you ready to be part of this transformation?

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