Race-Conscious Public Health: A Critical Discourse Analysis of the Release the Pressure Campaign

Abstract

In 2020, the Release the Pressure Campaign, a joint public health campaign was started to address the high rates of heart disease, and particularly hypertension, experienced among Black women in the United States. Through a Critical Discourse Analysis of mass media contents related to the campaign, this study sought to answer how the campaign used race to re-center Black women's heart health. Three discourses were determined, focused on embodiment of racism, self-care and community care, and addressing ways Black women treat heart disease. The discourses indicate the campaign is culturally focused and theoretically set up for success as a race-conscious public health campaign that has been advocated for. Future research is also discussed.