The Promise of Public Health
Bridging Past and Present: Exploring Civil Rights and Health Access
By Cheryl A.M. Anderson, Ph.D., M.P.H., professor and founding dean of the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, inaugural Hood Family Endowed Dean’s Chair in Public Health
In April 2024, I embarked on an educational journey to the southeastern United States, fueled by a deep commitment to the UC San Diego Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science’s vision of health justice and equity. This experience was more than just a trip; it was a profound exploration of the intertwined histories of civil rights and public health and an opportunity to practice deep listening in ways that could further infuse our school community with compassion, empathy and a culture of belonging.
The itinerary reflected a clear connection to the work we do within the school of public health aimed at creating a learning and working environment where everyone feels welcomed, respected and valued in our classrooms and workspaces.
J oined by 14 people strongly connected to UC San Diego, my fellow travelers were from different walks of life. We were united by a commitment to promote health justice.
We began the trip in New Orleans, Louisiana, and set out to better understand the historical and modern-day impacts of racism and racial discrimination on higher education and public health. We examined legacies of dehumanization that some students, faculty, administrators and staff carry with them. Each person connected to the activities differently; some had firsthand experiences of discrimination and others reflected on how the experiences of others have shaped them.
T he drive between New Orleans and the Whitney Plantation in Wallace, Louisiana, routed us by “Cancer Alley,” a stretch of land along the Mississippi River known for its high concentration of industrial plants and high rates of cancer in the local population of predominantly lower-income communities and people of color. At the Whitney Plantation, we confronted the harsh realities of slavery as we learned about the lives of the enslaved and their unacknowledged contributions to the U.S. The emotional weight of this visit was palpable, setting a solemn tone for the days ahead.
From Louisiana we continued to Montgomery, Alabama, where the didactic portion of the trip explored how the Civil Rights Movement laid the foundation for environmental justice efforts such as those in our school’s current strategic plan. We also met with attorney and social justice activist Bryan Stevenson and visited the Legacy Museum where we chronicled the painful continuum from disproportionate enslavement to mass incarceration of Black people. It was a sobering reminder of the lasting impacts of structural racism.
Whitney Plantation in Wallace, Louisana.
The museum’s exhibits underscored the importance of understanding historical injustices to address present-day disparities in health and beyond. For example, the Civil Rights Movement spotlighted the deep racial and economic inequalities in the U.S., which extended to health care. Activists fought for the desegregation of hospitals and health care facilities, leading to the passage of laws like the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which prohibited discrimination based on race in federally funded programs. This laid the groundwork for modern public health’s focus on ensuring equitable access to care regardless of race, ethnicity or socioeconomic status.
Our final stop was Atlanta, Georgia. The people, streets, buildings and murals of Atlanta emphasized for us Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s enduring legacy. We confronted reminders that civil rights efforts are ongoing while being inspired by Dr. King’s vision for justice and equality, including the “John Lewis Hero” mural. Lewis, who, at the same age as many of the learners in the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health, began a life of advocacy and survived a fractured skull during “Bloody Sunday” in 1965.
Our school’s mission benefits from the passion that the Civil Rights Movement brought to environmental conditions, housing, education, employment and voting rights; it influences health outcomes and these concepts are central to modern public health practice. It felt like a full circle moment when I had the privilege of moderating UC San Diego’s Helen Edison Lecture Series just one month later in May with Dr. King’s daughter, Dr. Bernice A. King.
Civil Rights trip.
C onsistent with civil rights activism, the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health public health practice units focus on methods for community-driven research and education, community engagement, participatory research, and advocacy for policies that address structural inequalities. We rely on wisdom from communities in San Diego to partner with us for health interventions and advocacy.
This transformative trip added to the growing number of school constituents who have a deeper understanding of the historical roots of injustice and commitment to health equity and how these principles can be applied to what we are doing at the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health. We concluded the trip inspired by our collective responsibility to a more inclusive approach to public health that advocates for positive change in San Diego and beyond.
“John Lewis Hero” mural in Atlanta, a 70-foot-high mural of the civil rights icon.
