It is inarguably true that the mention of word racism sets some hearts thumping in fury, and shivers running down the spines of others. These extreme emotional responses make the thorough discussion of racism an arduous task but its adverse effect on health compels us to open this chapter for dialogue. Racism, according to Link and Phelan is a fundamental cause that puts people at ‘risk of risks’ of adverse health events(1). Geronimus buttresses this assertion by hypothesizing the biological effects of the stress resulting from racial profiling through weathering, and the resultant health burden (2).
Public Health mandated to prevent disease and promote health has its activities strongly predicated on ethical and legal principles. Ironically however, it has at some points in the discharge of its mandate antagonistically reinforced rather than obviate some fundamental causes of disease through racial profiling. In 1932, the U.S. Public Health Service trying to understand the natural course of syphilis …show more content…
Considering the long standing effect of racism with its overwhelming burden on morbidity and mortality, can we confidently agree that enough has been done on the part of public health to preserve health in this regard? Can we compare efforts at eliminating racism to that aggressively invested in the eradication of smallpox? Certainly not when society implicitly approves undue stopping and frisking blacks by the police which adversely affect their psychological health (7). Certainly not when blacks are disproportionately represented in prisons, and society is expanding it to even incarcerate more (6). These clearly indicate that more is expected on the part of Public Health to address disease burden resulting from racial discrimination to improve the health of the
Public Health mandated to prevent disease and promote health has its activities strongly predicated on ethical and legal principles. Ironically however, it has at some points in the discharge of its mandate antagonistically reinforced rather than obviate some fundamental causes of disease through racial profiling. In 1932, the U.S. Public Health Service trying to understand the natural course of syphilis …show more content…
Considering the long standing effect of racism with its overwhelming burden on morbidity and mortality, can we confidently agree that enough has been done on the part of public health to preserve health in this regard? Can we compare efforts at eliminating racism to that aggressively invested in the eradication of smallpox? Certainly not when society implicitly approves undue stopping and frisking blacks by the police which adversely affect their psychological health (7). Certainly not when blacks are disproportionately represented in prisons, and society is expanding it to even incarcerate more (6). These clearly indicate that more is expected on the part of Public Health to address disease burden resulting from racial discrimination to improve the health of the