LANSING, Mich — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced Wednesday two major executive changes that she says will help fight systemic racism within the state government.
Whitmer has signed a new executive order to create the Black Leadership Advisory Council. She has also signed an executive directive that recognizes racism as a public health crisis.
“We’ve been able to build a more inclusive state government, but there is more work to do. That’s why today, I am proud to create the Black Leadership Advisory Council of Michigan,” Whitmer said.
“We must confront systemic racism head on so we can create a more equitable and just Michigan. This is not about one party or person. I hope we can continue to work towards building a more inclusive and unbiased state that works for everyone.”
The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed and confirmed the harmful nature of pre-existing inequities caused by systemic racism, according to a statement from the state.
“The rate of reported COVID-19 deaths for Black/African American Michigan residents is 1,624 per 1,000,000 compared with 399 per 1,000,000 for White residents, more than four times higher,” the statement reads.
Whitmer’s new executive order and directive are supposed to place an emphasis on this problem and take steps to address it within the state government.
The Black Leadership Advisory Council will be housed within the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity. The Council will advise the governor and develop and review policies and actions to eradicate discrimination and racial inequity in Michigan, according to the state.
In order to do this, the Council will do the following:
- Identify state laws, or gaps in the state laws, that create inequalities
- Collaborate with the governor’s office and the Black community to promote legislation that ensures the equitable treatment of all Michiganders
- Serve as a resource for community groups on issues, programs and sources of funding in order to benefit the interests of the Black community
- Promote the cultural arts within the Black community
The Council “will consist of 16 voting members representing Black leadership in economics, public policy, health and wellness, technology, the environment, agriculture, arts and culture, and more,” the state’s statement continues.
Along with the implementation of this council, Whitmer signed an executive directive that recognizes racism as a public health crisis.
This directive guides the MDHHS to partner with other state departments to examine data, develop polices and advocate for the Black community. Under the directive, data that documents differences in health outcomes among racial and ethnic groups must be collected, analyzed and publicly available. This will help leaders implement equitable polices, according to the state.
Additionally, the directive requires all state employees to take implicit bias training.
“Implicit, unconscious bias exists within each of us, and as public servants we have a duty to understand how our bias can impact the lives of others,” Whitmer said. “I am committed to leading by example and making sure state government is a model for equality, understanding, and fairness.”
Whitmer spoke about these new implementations, as well as the state's response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, in a live news conference Wednesday morning:
►Make it easy to keep up to date with more stories like this. Download the 13 ON YOUR SIDE app now.
Have a news tip? Email news@13onyourside.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter. Subscribe to our YouTube channel.