Creating a scene similar to an aerobics class in the Wooden
Center, attendees and speakers at a symposium about health
disparities on Tuesday paused mid-session for an exercise recess,
in spite of the ties, slacks and button-down shirts many were
wearing.
Arms waved and legs kicked to the 10-counts shouted from the
front of the Grand Horizon Room in Covel Commons by Dr. Antronette
Yancey, co-director of the UCLA Center to Eliminate Health
Disparities, which hosted the event.
The symposium, titled “Lessons from Hurricane Katrina:
Poverty, Race and Health in America,” gave faculty from UCLA
and UC Berkeley the opportunity to speak on these issues and
speculate on the implications the disaster could have for Los
Angeles.
Yancey presented data showing the prevalence of diabetes,
obesity and other health issues in predominantly poor minority
communities.
She said the issue of health disparities in these communities is
10 percent about health care and 90 percent about education and
environment.
Franklin D. Gilliam, a political science professor at UCLA, said
the notions of self-sufficiency in regard to race and separate
fates of racial and socioeconomic groups have a significant impact
on the way mainstream society views Katrina and the hardships
others go through.
He said this thinking often leads to disparities in the
perceptions of events, citing photos with captions that depict
minorities “looting” while whites are shown
“finding resources” and “fighting for
survival.”
Gilliam said it is good that Hurricane Katrina has brought up
discussion of race and class issues, but feels that it is not
enough.
“I hope a year from now, the human cry will be the same,
but I doubt it,” he said.
Richard Jackson, a professor at the UC Berkeley School of Public
Health, expressed concern over the response to Hurricane
Katrina.
“(Putting) 25,000 people in a room with six bathrooms, no
food, no water and Geraldo Rivera is not the way to deal,” he
said.
Jackson said facts and information are not enough to change the
minds of the American public.
“In order for things in our society to turn around,
we’re really going to have to reach out and touch
hearts,” he said.
Alex Ortega, an associate professor at the UCLA School of Public
Health, discussed the lack of concern the government had for the
welfare of the Latinos in the area, mentioning that none of the
evacuation messages for Katrina were translated into Spanish.
He said most of the Latinos in the area are undocumented
immigrants with no health care.
Ortega said many expect the devastated area to be predominantly
Latino after it is rebuilt, because they will most likely be the
ones doing the construction.
Steven Wallace, associate director for the UCLA Center for
Health Policy Research, said Angelenos should begin to take
precautions in the event of a disaster in the city.
“There will be a large earthquake in Los Angeles. There is
no question about it. The question is, are we prepared?” he
said.