Racism in the Global Lens: Addressing Its Public Health Implications and Challenges

Introduction

The essay will examine racism as a worldwide public health concern. It will show that racism is not limited to any one country or culture. It will look at how racism has spread over the world and how contemporary laws and tactics are trying to lessen the negative effects racism has on public health. Additionally, it will explore the elements that have contributed to the crisis.

Racism as a Global Public Health Issue

Systemic racism, racial discrimination, and xenophobia are global public health issues. These practises have contributed to global issues like enslavement, apartheid, colonial rule, and discrimination and undermine human rights. UN experts on racism recommend implementing the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action and the International Convention for the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and strengthening anti-racism laws (Garciandia and Webb, 2022). Health inequalities including infant mortality, chronic illness, and lower life expectancies are caused by racism, which denies many people, particularly Latinos, access to adequate healthcare, education, cheap housing, dependable transportation, job, and nutritional food.

The maternal death rate for Latinas increased by 74.2% during the COVID-19 epidemic, compared to only 17.2% for White women (Rainosek, 2023). Latinos also have higher liver and stomach cancer rates than Whites (Rainosek, 2023). Implicit bias in healthcare systems also delays minority screening and makes treatments less effective. Racism affects millions of Americans and the nation’s health, according to the CDC (Walensky, 2023). The CDC is addressing racism because it causes many health disparities.

Racism and Globalisation

Through its reach, global media can reinforce and challenge racial stereotypes. It may broadcast discriminatory content or reinforce harmful stereotypes, perpetuating racism. It can promote diverse perspectives and racial understanding, however. Migration may reduce racial prejudices and promote multiculturalism by increasing cultural diversity (Verkuyten and Yogeeswaran, 2020). However, if economic policies do not support equitable resource distribution or migrants face systemic discrimination in their new countries, it can increase racial tensions.

Policies that ignore inequality exacerbate racial disparities in the economy. Global economic policies can reduce or perpetuate these disparities depending on their structure and implementation. With its global reach, social media empowers marginalised voices and anti-racism movements (Vrikki and Malik, 2019). However, hate speech and misinformation can worsen racism and discrimination. These platforms must be regulated and used responsibly to reduce their negative effects.

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Global Health Governance and Racism

The WHO integrates human rights, equity, and intercultural approaches into public health policies to help national and local authorities fight racial discrimination and health disparities (World Health Organization, 2023). Racially discriminated communities receive comprehensive, culturally appropriate, and high-quality health services. The WHO’s efforts are part of multilateral efforts to promote evidence-based anti-discrimination measures and protect minorities and Indigenous Peoples.

Additionally, the UN has policies and recommendations to address these issues. The first draft General recommendation No. 37 (2023) on Racial discrimination in the enjoyment of the right to health under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) provides guidance on how to address common issues, clarifying obligations to ensure the right to health for all (United Nations, 2023). Member states must implement these recommendations and policies and commit to addressing the complex and deeply rooted racism in healthcare systems worldwide for these measures to be effective.

Influencing Factors

Racial disparities in healthcare, education, housing, and food lead to poor health, including infant mortality, life expectancy, and chronic and infectious diseases. Latina maternal mortality in the U.S. rose 74.2% during the COVID-19 pandemic, compared to 17.2% for White women (Rainosek, 2023). Latinos also have higher cancer rates and lower screening rates.

Racially and ethnically marginalised groups suffer from poverty-related health disparities. The global poverty rate exceeds 40% with United States having one of the worst poverty rates among industrialised countries (Beech et al., 2021). Racism and the denial of structural racism and classism cause global public health crises.

Job discrimination and structural policies that perpetuate racism, poor health, and poverty are instances of racism (Rainosek, 2023). These systemic issues, deeply ingrained in society, affect many health outcomes and require targeted reform. 

Social determinants of health include climate change and environmental injustice. Socially and economically disadvantaged people are more vulnerable to environmental hazards. Low-income communities with poor housing are more vulnerable to extreme weather (Kimmerling, 2023). Air pollution and extreme heat worsen chronic diseases in Black, Hispanic, and Indigenous people. Climate change and environmental injustice must be addressed for health equity. 

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Conclusion

Global public health is plagued by racism, affecting the healthcare. The essay stressed the need for global action to address racism’s widespread impact on health outcomes and determinants. It showed the complex relationship between racism and health and emphasised the need better data collection, new policies, community education, and international unity. Future research on health equality and racism’s global impact should aim for these goals.

References

Garciandia, R. and Webb, P., 2022. The UN’s Work on Racial Discrimination: Achievements and Challenges. Max Planck Yearbook of United Nations Law Online, 1(aop), pp.1-30.

Rainosek, C. (2023) New Year, same concerns: Why racism is still a public health crisis in 2023, Salud America. Available at: https://salud-america.org/new-year-same-concerns-why-racism-is-still-a-public-health-crisis-in-2023/ (Accessed: 21 November 2023).

Walensky, R.P. (2023) CDC declares racism a public health threat, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/minorityhealth/racism-disparities/expert-perspectives/threat/index.html (Accessed: 21 November 2023).

World Health Organization (2023) Tackling structural racism and ethnicity-based discrimination in health. Available at: https://www.who.int/activities/tackling-structural-racism-and-ethnicity-based-discrimination-in-health (Accessed: 21 November 2023).

United Nations (2023) First Draft General Recommendation No. 37 (2023) on racial … Available at: https://www.ohchr.org/en/documents/general-comments-and-recommendations/first-draft-general-recommendation-no-37-2023-racial (Accessed: 21 November 2023).

Beech, B.M. et al. (2021) Poverty, racism, and the Public Health Crisis in America, Frontiers. Available at: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2021.699049/full (Accessed: 21 November 2023).

Kimmerling, E. (2023) Climate change and environmental injustice as social determinants of health, The White House. Available at: https://www.whitehouse.gov/ostp/news-updates/2023/11/16/climate-change-and-environmental-injustice-as-social-determinants-of-health/ (Accessed: 21 November 2023).

Verkuyten, M. and Yogeeswaran, K., 2020. Cultural diversity and its implications for intergroup relations. Current opinion in psychology, 32, pp.1-5.

Vrikki, P. and Malik, S., 2019. Voicing lived-experience and anti-racism: Podcasting as a space at the margins for subaltern counterpublics. Popular Communication, 17(4), pp.273-287.

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