Racism and Social Capital: The Implications for Social and Physical Well‐Being

Abstract

Racism can be manifest at the cultural, institutional and individual levels, and can exert effects at the intrapersonal level if targeted individuals internalize attitudes toward their own racial/ethnic groups. The general aim of this article is to examine the ways in which all levels of racism undermine the development of peer relations, one component of social capital; and consequently affect the health and well-being of targeted individuals. The evidence suggests that cultural racism inculcates attitudes that may foster race-related social distancing; institutional racism isolates individuals from the opportunities to develop the skills needed to develop cross race-relations and promotes engagement with peers who exhibit antisocial behavior; interpersonal racism may erode the quality of routine interpersonal exchanges and engender anxiety about interacting with cross-race peers; and internalized racism may undermine the benefits of cross-race peer interactions. To the degree that racism affects the ability to form, maintain and benefit from peer relationships, it can contribute to racial disparities in economic, social and health-related outcomes and undermine the types of social cohesion that promote national unity.

Perceived discrimination and cardiovascular health disparities: a multisystem review and health neuroscience perspective

“…One implication of this inequality is that those who experience the most discrimination are more likely to have disadvantaged social status, greater exposure to other environmental and personal stressors, and reduced access to material and social resources that could be used to effectively respond to or cope with discrimination. [14][15][16][17] Moreover, discrimination itself can act as a barrier, limiting actual and perceived access to resources, such as quality healthcare and education. 14,16 Despite the historical and structural nature of discrimination, it is difficult to measure its facets on an individual level.…”

“…[14][15][16][17] Moreover, discrimination itself can act as a barrier, limiting actual and perceived access to resources, such as quality healthcare and education. 14,16 Despite the historical and structural nature of discrimination, it is difficult to measure its facets on an individual level. As such, studies in our review focus primarily on perceived interpersonal discrimination.…”

“…24 Fifth, perceived discrimination typically has both short-and long-term implications for the target, in that the individual has to manage both the immediate stress of an incident and any lasting effects of the experience (e.g., rumination or concern about the status of one's social group). 15,16,25 For this reason, perceived discrimination can be considered both an acute and chronic stressor. Relatedly, perceived discrimination may have a particularly significant impact on the individual through stress proliferation, or the process by which exposure to a major stressor can generate or increase the odds of exposure to other stressors.…”

Life‐Threatening Disparities: The Treatment of Black and White Cancer Patients

“…Accordingly, solutions to treatment disparities may require some interventions directed at individual patients, but ultimately what is required are interventions targeting health care providers, the health care system, and society in general as well. In this context, we again refer the reader to the article by Brondolo et al (2012). It suggests other, but in our view, complementary mechanisms through which racism may diminish the quality of Black–White interactions.…”

“…However, Brondolo, Libereti, Rivera, & Walsemann (2012) suggest that racism at various levels (e.g., institutional, internalized) may undermine Blacks’ ability to “form, maintain, and benefit from peer relationships,” thus reducing the social capital available to Blacks. It seems possible that the relative dearth of companions who accompany Black cancer patients may provide an example of this process.…”