There have always been some speculations between scientist and researchers on the threatening effects of racism on the health and well being of African-Americans. Although, there have been a few attempts to examine the link between experiences of racism and the physical health of African-Americans, there is a growing body of research on the effects of racism on the mental health of African-Americans. (Gibbons et al., 2004) Experience with racism is common for Blacks and those of African decent as evident by ….. For this study, we use Clark and his colleague’s definition of racism; racism is defined as “beliefs, attitudes, institutional arrangements, and acts that tend to denigrate individuals or groups because of phenotypic characteristics
…show more content…
al., 2003), psychological disorders (Sellers et al., 2006), substance abuse (…), and adverse birth outcomes (Collins, et al., 2004; Giscombe et al., 2005). For clarity and consistency, I use the terms African-American to label non-Hispanics of African decent and European-American to refer to non-Hispanics of European decent. This paper examines where experiences of racism effects the psychological functioning among African-Americas. Racial discrimination negatively affects the psychological functioning of African-Americans as evident by the very low birth weight in African-American infants, the prevalence of mood disorders, such as anxiety disorder and depression, and by negatively impacting the academics of African-American …show more content…
African, Black, Afro-Latino, and Afro-Caribbean) have higher preterm births and preterm-related infant mortality, when compared to other ethnic groups. (MacDorman et al., 2013) Additionally, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention acknowledged differences in infant mortality by ethnicity and race; infants born to African American mothers are twice as likely to die during the 1st year of their life than infants born to mothers of European decent. (MacDorman et al., 2005) Mathews and his colleagues define infant mortality as the incidence of death in the 1st year after birth, expressed in the relation to every 1,000 live births. (Mathews et al., 2002) In the past century, the infant mortality rate (IMR) has decreased from 100 (per 1,000 live births) to 6.9 (per 1,000 live births). In the early 20th century, advancements in hygiene practices, expansions in public health initiatives, and the development in antibiotics and sulfa drugs resulted in the dramatic reduction in infant mortality. (Giscombe et. al., 2005) Despite the decline in IMR, infant mortality is two times more likely in African-Americans than European-Americans. In 2012, the Annual Summary of Vital Statistics reported that the IMR for African-Americans in 11.19 (per 1,000 live births) and in European-Americans is 5.04 (per 1,000 live births). (Arias et al.,
al., 2003), psychological disorders (Sellers et al., 2006), substance abuse (…), and adverse birth outcomes (Collins, et al., 2004; Giscombe et al., 2005). For clarity and consistency, I use the terms African-American to label non-Hispanics of African decent and European-American to refer to non-Hispanics of European decent. This paper examines where experiences of racism effects the psychological functioning among African-Americas. Racial discrimination negatively affects the psychological functioning of African-Americans as evident by the very low birth weight in African-American infants, the prevalence of mood disorders, such as anxiety disorder and depression, and by negatively impacting the academics of African-American …show more content…
African, Black, Afro-Latino, and Afro-Caribbean) have higher preterm births and preterm-related infant mortality, when compared to other ethnic groups. (MacDorman et al., 2013) Additionally, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention acknowledged differences in infant mortality by ethnicity and race; infants born to African American mothers are twice as likely to die during the 1st year of their life than infants born to mothers of European decent. (MacDorman et al., 2005) Mathews and his colleagues define infant mortality as the incidence of death in the 1st year after birth, expressed in the relation to every 1,000 live births. (Mathews et al., 2002) In the past century, the infant mortality rate (IMR) has decreased from 100 (per 1,000 live births) to 6.9 (per 1,000 live births). In the early 20th century, advancements in hygiene practices, expansions in public health initiatives, and the development in antibiotics and sulfa drugs resulted in the dramatic reduction in infant mortality. (Giscombe et. al., 2005) Despite the decline in IMR, infant mortality is two times more likely in African-Americans than European-Americans. In 2012, the Annual Summary of Vital Statistics reported that the IMR for African-Americans in 11.19 (per 1,000 live births) and in European-Americans is 5.04 (per 1,000 live births). (Arias et al.,