The words "Health Injustice", on a teal background with a photo of a man resting his head on his hand.

Why African Americans Live Sicker and Die Younger

Black Americans suffer the worst outcomes of any other American group. They receive poorer health care, and therefore live sicker and die younger.

The true causes of the high rate of disease in Black Americans are not well known by many. The prevailing thought among some is that these health disparities are inevitable. But in reality they mainly result from environmental factors typically beyond their control – factors such as class, gender, and race. The bottom line is that it is about systemic injustice. And therefore, many may feel powerless against the early onset of death and disease.

Our goal is to dispel those misconceptions, point people toward solutions, and demonstrate that the individual can be powerful and organized communities have the ability to halt this accelerated cycle of death.

African Americans are genetically programmed to retain salt, hence the reason they are more predisposed to high blood pressure.

This misconception that African Americans are genetically predisposed to retain more salt in their bodies has no scientific foundation. Even if the theory was true, this alone would not account for the prevalence of hypertension in African Americans. Pathophysiological, anthropological, and historical data have since disputed this theory.

Citation: Lujan, Heidi L, and Stephen E Dicarlo. “The ‘African Gene’ Theory: It Is Time to Stop Teaching and Promoting the Slavery Hypertension Hypothesis.” Advances in Physiology Education, vol. 42, no. 3, 2018, pp. 412–416

Black people don’t need to use sunscreen because they are immune to common skin cancers.

The misconception that Black people are protected from skin cancers due to having melanin is a barrier hindering access to early diagnosis and treatment. In fact, because of this belief, they are at greater risk of melanoma-related mortality than their White counterparts due to being diagnosed at later stages. Other factors such as low risk perception and lack of education about skin cancer contribute to the racial disparities impacting skin cancer mortality among African Americans.

Citation: Fliorent, R., Podwojniak, A., Adolphe, L., & Milani, K. (2023). Racial Differences in Perceived Risk and Sunscreen Usage. Cureus, 15(1), e33752. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.33752

Black Americans feel less physical pain compared to other people because their nerves are less sensitive.

Unfortunately, racial bias and distorted perception of Black people’s pain still persist even in America’s top medical institutions. Recent surveys have revealed that many White medical students and residents believe that Black people feel less pain than White people due to differences in nerve endings. Because of this fallacy, Black people are less likely to receive pain medication in emergency rooms when they report pain to their physicians.

Citation: Hoffman, Kelly M, et al. “Racial Bias in Pain Assessment and Treatment Recommendations, and False Beliefs about Biological Differences between Blacks and Whites.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, vol. 113, no. 16, 2016, pp. 4296–4301.

Black Americans have poor health because of low income, education, or high poverty rates compared to other groups.

Even among well educated, high-income Black Americans, health outcomes remain poorer than that of their White counterparts. Education, socioeconomic status, and access to healthcare are not the only factors that contribute to producing the African American health gap. Rather, increased stress, poor lifestyle choices, and harmful biases by healthcare providers against Black Americans are key factors rooted in racism that lead to poorer health.

Citation: Beth J. Soldo, et al. “Race, Socioeconomic Status, and Health in Late Life.” Racial and Ethnic Differences in the Health of Older Americans, 2000, pp. 106–162.

Black Americans have poorer health because of their genetic makeup.

The idea of genetic differences existing between races lacks any scientific foundation. The melanin that determines differences in skin color is as inconsequential as different hair textures or eye color. Although the long history of using science to justify race superiority has left significant ongoing damage, respected scientists have agreed that there is no biological or genetic basis for racial categories. Race is a construct created by White elitists centuries ago to maintain power and privilege over others. Not one characteristic, trait, or gene distinguishes individuals of one race from another.

Citation: Duello, T. M., Rivedal, S., Wickland, C., & Weller, A. (2021). Race and genetics versus ‘race’ in genetics: A systematic review of the use of African ancestry in genetic studies. Evolution, medicine, and public health, 9(1), 232–245. https://doi.org/10.1093/emph/eoab018

The poor health of Black Americans is only because of low access to healthcare or unwillingness to utilize healthcare services when available.

The harmful effects of historical racism are still present today. Black neighborhoods that were redlined generations ago are now impoverished and underserved, with some communities displaced due to gentrification. As long as policy makers fail to address the legacies of enslavement and racial segregation, Black Americans will continue to experience poorer health outcomes than their White counterparts. Having universal healthcare is a fundamental step to narrow the healthcare gap, but it will not eliminate health inequity. The solution is eradicating racism throughout the healthcare system.

Citation: Noonan, Allan S, et al. “Improving the Health of African Americans in the USA: an Overdue Opportunity for Social Justice.” Public Health Reviews, vol. 37, no. 1, 2016, p. 12.