According to U.S. government statistics, each day more than 200 African Americans die prematurely due to their exposure to racism. While institutionalized and systemic racism remain well-defined risk factors, the corrosive impact of daily exposures to prejudice and hate remains an overlooked factor. It is the most toxic aspect of racism’s destructive harm to health. In 2020, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) finally declared racism a public health crisis.
Over the years numerous studies clearly have identified the harm of internalized oppression that increases the risk of developing hypertension, diabetes, anxiety, depression, and other chronic diseases. And racism’s impact is even greater as African Americans climb professional and corporate ladders. However, studies have failed to provide viable solutions.
Racism’s Corrosive and Hidden Health Impact
Far too many African Americans have been led to believe that suffering in silence and patiently awaiting racism’s demise are their only options. Most are not aware of effective and meaningful solutions that will protect, heal, and shield them from the insidious and continuous harm of racism.
“This invisible carnage must end! African Americans and our Brothers and Sisters across the diaspora need to be informed of this pervasive risk and equipped with effective and proven resources to disrupt this life-endangering harm,” says Elaine R. Ferguson, M.D., noted pioneering holistic physician, author and CEO of One Health, LLC.
“While the CDC finally has acknowledged the life shortening and health endangering harm of internalized racism, it is imperative to understand that we can’t afford to wait for racism to end to get the relief we need.”
In April 2021, the CDC stated: “What we know is this: racism is a serious public health threat that directly affects the well-being of millions of Americans. As a result, it affects the health of our entire nation. Racism is not just the discrimination against one group based on the color of their skin or their race or ethnicity, but the structural barriers that impact racial and ethnic groups differently to influence where a person lives, where they work, where their children play, and where they worship and gather in community. These social determinants of health have life-long negative effects on the mental and physical health of individuals in communities of color.”
A Life-Changing Healing Opportunity
There are empowering and impactful ways to stop the internalized harm – to protect, to heal and to shield ourselves, emphasizes Dr. Elaine, as she is affectionately known. She adds that Black people also must become aware of our remarkable innate healing capacity and how to more fully engage it to heal these wounds.
One Health, LLC, has launched Rise & Thrive™: Healing Hate’s Invisible Harm, a groundbreaking, holistic healing initiative designed to provide a vast array of programs, services, and other learning resources to inform, inspire and help our community heal deep racial wounds.
“The foundation of the engagement’s healing effort is the online platform for Rise & Thrive™: Healing Racism’s Invisible Harm. It is Dr. Elaine’s passionate desire to help people of the African diaspora to overcome this harm in meaningful and lasting ways.
“Our clients have undergone the life-changing awareness and healing experience that confirms their internal power to overcome anything, including the seemingly impossible task of healing racism’s harm,” says Dr. Elaine. She adds that amid a loving and supportive environment, and with well-defined resources, clients transform their mindsets from a victim’s perspective to a well-informed and empowered outlook that sets them free of the debilitating victimization their racist experiences have created.
“It is the bright light at the end of a very long and painful tunnel that will help you not only heal but to also protect and shield you from future harm,” says Dr. Elaine.
Testimonials:
“You are truly sent from heaven. I have been haunted by the silence from our community on the subject of racism in the form of a real action plan for healing. Someone finally. . . you have opened a sacred portal for healing over 400 years of pain and shame of carrying the invisible wounds of hatred. Also, thank you for deliberately changing the language of racism.” – Iya H.
“Dr. Elaine, you’ve created an awesome healing space, one we didn’t realize we all needed. We carry the burden of racism in isolation and in silence. We didn’t know what we were looking for until you shared this powerful opportunity with us. I can’t thank you enough for bringing this powerful healing space to life.” –James C.
About One Health, LLC: One Health, LLC, is a holistic health and wellness company founded by Dr. Elaine Ferguson, M.D., a pioneer in the field of holistic medicine. Known affectionately as Dr. Elaine, she also is best-selling author and PBS host. Dr. Elaine is a graduate of Brown University, Duke University School of Medicine and completed post-graduate training at the University of Chicago. After practicing holistic medicine for several decades, she experienced a toxic and chronic racist incident that led to a profound spiritual realization that transformed her emotional and physical health. That placed her on the path to helping African descendants around the globe to heal racism’s harmful health and life-endangering impact.
For More Information on Dr. Elaine and Rise & Thrive™: Healing Hate’s Invisible Harm, visit her website & watch Superheating Secrets (PBS Program)
Black Westchester
Black Westchester - News With The Black Point Of View is an online news magazine for people of color for Westchester and the Tri- State area of New York at every economic level. Our mission is to promote the concept of “community” through media.
