Major Impact Of Racism On Communities

With so many people of different races in cultural living in the same communities, racism is something that can make it really hard for a community overall. Some people are prone to suffer from it more in ways we never think about.

In a lot of cases something that’s not talked about is people having a destructive culture that is not good for anyone. Are there certain things in a person’s cultural behavior that is causing them problems in life, and they’re blaming it on racism? It is a known proven fact that people who behave in a undesirable way have always been discriminated against regardless of skin color.

In today’s society the term racism is thrown around in many ways that might not truly be racist. Just because you didn’t get a job in the job was given to someone of another race does not mean it is racist. They could be more qualified than you, or they feel the other person will be easier to work with than you. Which does not have to be about race but more about personality.

Just because a white police officer pulls a black person over while they are driving does not mean it was done out of racism. Or some one assuming that if they were a white person they would not have been pulled over or just let off. This is just assumed racism from things you have been taught in the media and does not know the true motive of the officer.

First did you truly do something wrong? Then at that point you really do not have an argument. If you truly did something wrong then you’re racist claims against the officer has no merit. Now if he unnecessarily rough you up and you are not resisting arrest, you have more of a case possibly. But would it be racism or just police brutality?

Racism is sometimes that can be tricky to prove and we cannot assume that every disagreement between people of different races means that someone is racist. Maybe they just don’t like you and don’t have a problem with other people in your race. Now when we have a situation that is truly racism that is what we are talking about in this post.

True racism can significantly impact a person’s health for no good reason. Problems linked with racism social issues have immensely risen with time. How can an individual live a healthy life while dealing with racism and other socioeconomic circumstances linked to racism?

It can badly impact a person’s physical and mental health. Here, we will discuss how racism can leave an innocent person victim of physical or mental health problems.

What Is Racism?

Racism is a social construct created to categorize and create hierarchies to ensure an unequal distribution of resources, privilege, and power. It is a classification that has varied over time and has created a set of values and assumptions toward people from different groups.

When discussing the pros and cons of racism, there can be no pro at all. However, it has an unlimited number of cons that we will discuss in detail.

Types of Racism Defined

So, how does race impact your life? People who fall victim to racism have to face various types of neglect in life. A few of them are mentioned below.

Biasness	Prejudice, preference, or partiality results in unfairness or exclusion, whether conscious or unconscious.
Unfair Dominance	The cultural perspectives that are imposed unfairly are the most important and influential in society.
Discrimination	Discrimination is defined as actions that favor or advance one group based on bias or prejudice.
Marginalize	Excluding, neglecting, or downgraded to the margin of a community or society.
Social Silencing	The deliberate exclusion or suppression of a social group’s voice or participation is social silencing.
Categorize	Prejudiced expectations from individuals of various groups are based on generalized beliefs, biased attitudes, and discriminatory expectations.
Oppression	Harassment, discrimination, exploitation, prejudice, and unfairness affect diverse groups regularly.
Privilege	An unfair advantage or benefit gained exclusively due to being a group member.

Major Impacts of Racism On Communities

Racism can leave a person facing various physical and mental health issues. Yes, it can impact physical health as well. Here we have it mentioned how.

Different types of racisms exist; for example, racism against a religion, skin color, nationality, ethnicity, etc. To dig in even deeper, we suggest reading Gloria Browne-Marshall’s book Race Law and American Society to uncover multiple brutal facts.

How Racism Impact Physically

Racism harms health on several levels. The primary outcome is physical violence and the rise of contagious diseases. There is enough evidence to demonstrate that the stress associated with racism can have long-term bodily consequences.

High Blood Pressure

Stress can cause a victim’s blood pressure to rise and leave high blood pressure. Also, it increases the risk of long-term health problems. Racism can increase stress levels, increasing the risk of developing high blood pressure in people of color.

Heart Diseases

According to another study, unfair treatment of persons of color has a considerable impact on sleep and physiological performance in midlife. According to a 2019 study, racist events appear to raise inflammation in African Americans, increasing their risk of various chronic diseases like renal illness and heart diseases.

Weak Immune

Stress can be a significant cause of a weak immune system due to overthinking and depression. Severe stress can cause the immune system to weaken while increasing the risk of long-term health problems. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Black individuals are more likely to have hypertension.

Neurologic Issues

Racism can cause a person to go through neurologic or other mental issues. Chronic exposure to an unstable or sensitive neuronal response due to frequent chronic stress has physiological consequences.

Body Aches

Various behavioral changes often happen, contributing to work issues and a breakdown in relationships. Sweating, trembling, migraines, dizziness, stomach issues, aches and pains, and chest pain are some of the problems that have been observed in various racism victims.

How Racism Impact Mentally

For years, researchers have acknowledged that the psychological stress associated with racism substantially impacts the development and progression of atherosclerosis, a precursor to severe heart disease. This result is the result of a lifetime of experience.

However, the full extent of the psychological harm inflicted by racism’s stress is now becoming clear. Even though there is no particular geography for racist people, they can be found anywhere in the world.

Depression

Depression is not an unfamiliar word as every two out of three persons are depression victims. However, people who face racism and discrimination due to their race, skin color, or ethnicity have a pretty big ratio who fall into depression.

Epigenesis

According to one of the most alarming discoveries in the science of epigenetics. Epigenesis is the process of transmitting information to new cells during cell division to decide how genes are expressed, or how genes are “turned on” and which are “silent.” Stress can impact how an individual’s genes work, and some stress-related changes can be transmitted.

Anxiety

Anxiety is a part of mental illnesses characterized by intense fear, nervousness, and worry. It is a common and natural emotion, but it may constitute a medical condition when a person regularly experiences disproportionate anxiety levels. Unfortunately, it is another common issue found in racism victims.

PTSD

After enduring a traumatic experience that makes a person feel afraid, stunned, or helpless, he may develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It can cause long-term consequences such as insomnia, stress, and anxiety. Instead of getting better, the person often becomes more nervous and afraid with time. PTSD can cause a person’s life to be disrupted for years.

Lower Self-Esteem

Internalized racism shows up in a variety of ways. Brutal outcomes of racism occur when members of racial communities respond to persistent negative racial stereotypes by adopting as real dominant society’s ideas about their biological and cultural inferiority. Self-esteem and psychological well-being suffer as a result.

Racial disparities persist in wealth, health, and education.

When talking about racism, that means it, in the broadest sense, affects institutions, policies, and outcomes in all aspects of racism victims’ lives.

The black unemployment rate is among the highest.

Black women are three times more likely than white women to die while giving birth.

Black individuals are underrepresented in well-paying occupations.

Black Americans are underrepresented in the highest levels of government.

Impact Of Racism On Different Age Groups

Racism leaves a significant impact on children, teenagers, adults, and their families health. The evidence proves to influence the health and well-being of most individuals negatively.

Impact Of Racism On Child Development

Racism has natural and fundamental consequences for children. Not only does it harm their health, but it also jeopardizes their prospects of living a happy, successful life. Science is revealing an increasingly clear picture of significant trauma in the lives of young children.

The young age trauma can severely affect children’s brain and other biological systems development. Early disturbances can threaten a child’s ability to reach their most tremendous potential. However, institutional racism and interpersonal prejudice may be undetectable to people who have never experienced them.

Impact of Racism On Teens

Racism can cause anxiety, fear, rage, and despair in teens and youngsters aged 11 to 19. They may start fights, withdraw, or become physically ill when facing severe stress, such as headaches, insomnia, nausea, etc. Even though it is necessary to know the ongoing situations on social media, it can negatively impact sensitive teens.

Teens often perceive problems due to racism social issues in the form of taunting, bullying, and other children refusing to play with them. Teens and growing children facing the racist behavior of other individuals may find it overwhelming and challenging to digest news against their communities.

Impact of Racism On Adults

The transition from teens to adulthood occurs between 18 and 29. Individuals continue to develop their identities during this age through education, talent, relationships, and culture. However, racism sufferers are less likely than other emerging adults to attend and graduate from college due to residential isolation and rigorous policing.

Discrimination daily appears to increase the psychological risk for most adults. They also encounter personal racial difficulties and micro-aggressions, such as meager service or avoidance. It has been demonstrated that when discrimination perceptions rise, so do unfavorable psychological effects.

FAQs

Some of the frequently asked questions related to racism’s effect on communities are answered below.

How do stereotypes contribute to the endurance of racism and discrimination?

People frequently generalize an individual or a group of individuals based on their ethnicity, religion, ancestry, culture, physical, developmental, or mental characteristics, gender, or sexual orientation. Stereotypes can lead to bias, which can be justifications for discrimination.

What to do when witnessing racism?

It is essential to speak up whenever you observe racism, even when it is just a racist joke. Make it clear to the person that such marks are offensive.

What impact does racism have on victims?

Racism in any form is harmful. Victims of racial prejudice may feel isolated, lonely, furious, and depressed. It may make individuals feel so uncomfortable that they become estranged from their communities and stop participating.

What does the term BIPOC mean?

BIPOC stands for “Black, Indigenous, and People of Color.” It allows for a departure from terms such as “marginalized” and “minority.”

How can we assist in eliminating the trend of racism?

When we hear or observe racism or discrimination in any form, we must speak up. Empowering ourselves and one another is an excellent place to start.

Conclusion

Racism can play a significant role in developing physical and mental health problems. It can cause various racism social issues, increasing the risk of multiple diseases and mental health issues, including anxiety and depression in both children and adults. According to research, the stress created by watching or experiencing racism can have long-term consequences. CWP

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How to deal with race and cultural differences in neighborhood

References