Early in my professional career, I heard an unfamiliar phrase from a corporate CEO during a town hall meeting. The CEO asked everyone in the organization to follow his lead and “Trust first, then, if necessary, verify.” At that time, I was impressed with his philosophy on how to conduct business and move through life. His words resonated with me to this day.

I was a young professional with my entire career laid out in front of me. I worked at an insurance company, and the purpose of an insurance company is to financially protect you from losses that can possibly occur, whether that loss is during business operations or healthcare etc. We purchase insurance coverage that is meant to help cover the costs of certain losses up to a specific amount. It’s designed to protect you from future risks.

I have had a bird’s eye view of how companies would come to the aid of people during natural disasters and devastating personal losses. Through my observation, companies and people change for the good and bad. My time with the insurance company reminded me of the good faith efforts that were shown by the Native Americans to the Europeans during the first Thanksgiving holiday. It was a Native American philosophy to give without expecting anything in return. Native Americans taught the Europeans about the agriculture of the land. The tribes taught them how to use the land to restore their health and bring peace to their homes.

The Europeans repaid the Native Americans by colonizing them. Native Americans modeled the true value of health equity, and the Europeans took what they learned and systematically dismantled all health equity in this country.

Health equity is the state in which everyone has a fair and just opportunity to attain their highest level of health. Life expectancy at birth in 2021 for U.S. indigenous populations was 65.2 years, in comparison to 76.1 years for the total U.S. population. Despite any level of federal recognition, indigenous people face incredible disparities in representation, economics, and access to quality healthcare.

African Americans have been marginalized greatly in the US, but Native Americans and Alaska Native tribes have suffered terrible atrocities under the guise of “Trust”. One manifestation of health inequities is that African Americans, as well as patients from other marginalized communities, have higher rates of chronic diseases, such as diabetes, asthma, and hypertension. At this point, it is almost built into the DNA of African Americans and Indigenous People.

It has been reported by the CDC that the average life expectancy among African-American people in the United States is four years lower than that of White people. Our time to trust has ended with America. Statistics have proven that, over the generations, we have verified that health equity should be our primary concern. Without our health, we have nothing. Optimal health is our wealth in America.

We must demand quality healthcare for all people. The month of November is widely recognized as National Health Month in America. We must demand our leaders and those in authority to focus on the health of our nation and the physical health of our people. And I mean ALL PEOPLE.

This focus must address the structural barriers in existence today that prohibit people with disabilities, and racial and ethnic groups from gaining adequate healthcare. Quality healthcare should be provided to all.

Lack of insurance, transportation, childcare, and even the ability to take off from work must be so that quality healthcare can be provided to lower-income families. Health inequity occurs in housing. People from racial and ethnic minority groups are disproportionally affected by difficulties in finding affordable housing and quality housing. Redlining and other racist housing discrimination practices have made it difficult for poor and minority people to find decent places to live and raise their families.

As a human resources professional, I have seen firsthand the inequities in employment and workplace conditions. I have made it a practice to address these inequities in my LinkedIn platform. I value equal education for all and have mentored so many young people to follow their dreams, knowing that most of those dreams require some sort of post-secondary education. People with disabilities and people with lower incomes are affected by inequities in access to high-quality education.

All these inequities point back to the income and wealth gaps in our country. Prayers are good, but prayers partnered with action are far more successful. We have a moral obligation to help our brothers and sisters achieve optimum health because, without that, our nation will crumble. As believers, we are called to be our brothers’ keeper and pursue what is good for ourselves and others. “Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness (1 John 29).”