Social Capital, Black Social Mobility, and Health Disparities

Abstract

This review aims to delineate the role of structural racism in the formation and accumulation of social capital and to describe how social capital is leveraged and used differently between Black and White people as a response to the conditions created by structural racism. We draw on critical race theory in public health praxis and restorative justice concepts to reimagine a race-conscious social capital agenda. We document how American capitalism has injured Black people and Black communities’ unique construction of forms of social capital to combat systemic oppression. The article proposes an agenda that includes communal restoration that recognizes forms of social capital appreciated and deployed by Black people in the United States that can advance health equity and eliminate health disparities. Developing a race-conscious social capital framing that is inclusive of and guided by Black community members and academics is critical to the implementation of solutions that achieve racial and health equity and socioeconomic mobility. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Public Health, Volume 43 is April 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.

Neighborhood social cohesion and serious psychological distress among Asian, Black, Hispanic/Latinx, and White adults in the United States: a cross-sectional study

“…Although this scale has been validated in the general population [ 59 ], it has not been validated, to our knowledge, across all the racial/ethnic groups included this is study. Therefore, this measure may have limited validity to capture components of nSC relevant to different racial/ethnic groups [ 60 , 61 ].…”

Racial and Ethnic Differences in the Relationship Between Neighborhood Environment and Physical Activity Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults

“…Communities disproportionately burdened by structural racism may equip some minoritized seniors with individual and collective strategies to cope with and overcome environmental stressors (Eschbach et al, 2004;Ferraro et al, 2017;Gilbert et al, 2022;Meyer, 1995Meyer, , 2003. For example, the greater sense of connection across generations among Hispanic/Latinx older adults (Burr & Mutchler, 1999) or the active engagement in faith-based organizations among Black individuals (Chatters et al, 2009;Assari, 2018: ;Gilbert et al, 2022) could contribute to building greater social cohesion, social support, and social norms that promote PA, as well as utilizing psychosocial and institutional resources to buffer the effects of adverse neighborhood environments. Future qualitative studies are warranted to promote a better understanding of how social cohesion operationalizes differently to affect health-promoting behaviors among non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black, and Hispanic/Latinx communities.…”

Renovation programs in old and inefficient neighborhoods of cities with case studies

“…Resources: Workshop experiences, theoretical exploration and these references: (La Rosa et al 2017;Shahraki, 2021;Votinov & Liubchenko, 2020;Maund et al 2022;Ghera, 2019;Gilbert et al 2022;Grütter 2020)…”