This paper indicates that racial residential segregation is a fundamental cause of racial disparities in health. The physical separation of the races by enforced residence in certain areas is an institutional mechanism of racism that was designed to protect whites from social interaction with blacks. Despite the absence of supportive legal statutes today, the degree of residential segregation remains extremely high for most African Americans in the United States. We review evidence that suggests that segregation is a primary determinant of racial differences in socioeconomic mobility, and creates conditions inimical to health in the social and physical environment. Thus the widely recognized pattern of racial differences in socioeconomic status (SES) is a product of segregation. SES in turn remains a fundamental determinant of racial differences in health. Effective efforts to eliminate racial disparities in health must seriously confront segregation and its pervasive consequences.
Learning Objectives: 1. To understand how racial residential segregation contributes to racial disparities in health.
Keywords: Minority Research,
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.