A Policy Agenda for a Healthier, More Equitable New Jersey
is a report from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation that examines a long history of discrimination and recommends ways we can overcome it together.
A deck stacked against
people of color
A veteran of WWI, John Parrish worked full-time, plus extra jobs on the side, but he still couldn’t afford to own his own home.
In Newark, N.J., in 1952, the odds were against working-class Black men like Parrish, including discriminatory policies like redlining—in which mortgages were intentionally denied to people of color.
Only by winning an underground game of chance—a neighborhood lottery called “playing the numbers”—did Parrish beat the odds. And even then, he needed a White man to stand in for him in dealings with the bank.
“He worked as hard as anybody, but in those times, if you were a Black family, you kind of needed a miracle,” said Parrish’s great granddaughter, Maisha Simmons, who serves as assistant vice president for equity and social justice at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. “Lucky for us, he got one. And that home gave my grandfather and father some stability that certainly contributed to opportunities for my dad, and to his health. But a lot of people weren’t so lucky.”
The barriers Parrish faced are examples of structural racism.
So, what’s the difference between structural racism and interpersonal racism?
A roadmap to a more
equitable future
For New Jersey to be a place where everyone can achieve the healthiest life possible, we must acknowledge structural racism as a root cause of inequity, and address it. A Policy Agenda for a Healthier, More Equitable New Jersey envisions a plan to achieve this goal that is based on engaging and empowering communities—and using that strength to advance several key priorities.
We must build power in communities as the foundation for real change
To break down structural racism, we must fundamentally change systems and policies that create barriers to equity. The most effective way to change these systems is to build power in the communities affected. That means involving people, engaging people and giving people a sense of agency over the structures that affect them. When communities take collective action, their power becomes the engine that drives all other forms of change.
We must ensure equitable access to affordable housing
Differences in location should not dictate differences in quality of life. Housing must be made more affordable in more places.
- Invest in building more affordable housing
- Promote racially-equitable land use and zoning
- Leverage innovative strategies to facilitate racially-equitable home ownership
- Fund right-to-counsel for low-income renters
We must advance
birth and reproductive justice
The lived experience of Black women in New Jersey’s maternal healthcare system is dramatically different than that of White women. We must address this directly.
- Invest in a diverse workforce and bias training
- Implement new Medicaid policy in a way that supports racial equity
- Enhance access to reproductive healthcare, including abortion
- Enforce existing paid leave benefit and increase use
We must build
public health infrastructure
Emerging threats like climate change, global pandemics and the impact of systemic racism are best mitigated with investment before a full-blown crisis.
- Provide maximum support to existing public health services
- Establish a state public health institute
- Transform public health data systems and sharing processes through an equity lens
In New Jersey, more than 400 years of intentional and de facto policy, practices and norms excluded people of color from opportunities to thrive. Just as these inequitable policies and practices were created and implemented by people, so too can people fight to overturn them and put in place something better.
We can work together to build a better future.
One where health is a right for everyone.
Unless otherwise noted, information came from RWJF’s “A Policy Agenda for a Healthier, More Equitable New Jersey" report (May 2023)
- “Life Expectancy: Could Where You Live Influence How Long You Live? ” RWJF (Source 2020, accessed April 2024)
- “Highest and lowest incomes in every N.J. county, ranked” NJ.com (January 2023)
- “Want to buy a home in N.J.? Better make over $150K, new study says” NJ.com (April 2024)
- “The Gap: A Shortage of Affordable Homes” National Low Income Housing Coalition (Source 2022, accessed April 2024)
