Studies show that consistent exposure to adversity and marginalization causes early health declines in black Americans. Racism is more than thoughts and spoken slurs. The practice of racism relative to the treatment of people is illegal only on paper. It still goes on in America right now. Racism is an abusive behavior based on an individual’s race that causes lifelong harm. Racial abuse can lead to self-destructive and societally destructive violent behavior.
Study: Racism shortens lives and hurts health of blacks by promoting genes that lead to inflammation and illness
Racism is toxic to our health in the same way smoking is, by damaging our natural defenses to fight off disease, says April Thames, professor of psychology and psychiatry at USC Dornsife.
African Americans have worse health outcomes and die earlier than whites.
Negative social attitudes, such as racism and discrimination, damage the health of those who are targeted by triggering a cascade of aberrant biological responses, including abnormal gene activity. It is not surprising that reports documenting lifespan and causes of mortality have demonstrated a clear pattern: African Americans die sooner and bear a heavier burden of many diseases, including hypertension, heart disease, dementia and late-stage breast cancer.
Scientists have searched for genetic causes to health disparities between blacks and whites but have had limited success. The strongest evidence to date points to social-environmental factors such as poverty, health care inequities and racism.
Racism is toxic to our health in the same way smoking is, by damaging our natural defenses to fight off disease, says April Thames, professor of psychology and psychiatry at USC Dornsife. [6 min read]
dornsife.usc.edu
