Racism effects health

Do we live in a society of equality or are there still things under the surface that continue to effect and hinder the African American experience here in the united states?

Currently in America we are having a huge debate over if racism still exists in America or are African Americans just over reacting. Interestingly enough, a couple of doctors have come out with new research to prove that racism is significantly effecting the health of the African American community at large. These doctor tell us that there is a direct correlation between health and wealth. The more money you make the more likely you will not suffer from many life threatening diseases. Surprisingly, this is not true for African American women; especially when it comes to stress during pregnancy.  They argue that racism over time it what is leading to premature and smaller as well as still born babies in African American women. To prove this, they did a study that verified when women had the same birth outcome, African American children were substantially smaller than the white ones. Michael Lu says that the reason for this is racism. Racism is effecting these women due to the fact that constant exposure to it creates chronic stress. When you deal with stress like this on a regular basis it starts to drastically effect your organs and will lead to premature labor as this study shows.

            This study here is just more evidence of the daily struggle of black Americans in our society. Regardless if it is slavery, Jim Crow or the subtle micro aggressions African Americans face today, we see that African American are still facing an uphill climb when it comes to equality and acceptance into the mainstream of America. This in not healthy functioning country if an enormous demographic is uncomfortable and even scared simply being amongst white Americans as a community. It is not only are job to create and a society that is equal but one that is welcoming. For America to be successful we cannot just allow people to exist and work in our community, we must invite all races and ethnicities enthusiastically. If the extent of white Americans is to just tolerate the other races who live amongst them, then we will continue to have enormous inequities and racism. That is what I learned most form this class. To accept the status quo is to deny all the possible progress that is still achievable in America. If our country decides that legal equality is good enough for Americans, then we are truly selling ourselves short of our full potential.


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