BMJ 2003;326:65-66 ( 11 January )

Editorials

Racism and health

Antiracism is an important health issue

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Discussion of racial discrimination in medicine has concerned mainly recruitment and career development. ^{1 2} This has overshadowed a growing literature showing an association between racism, morbidity and mortality.^3-7 Racism may be aetiologically important in the development of illness.

Racism stems from the belief that people should be treated differently because of a few phenotypic features. Racism can manifest as individual or group acts and attitudes or institutionalised processes that lead to disparities. Racism is common: in one national survey in the United Kingdom, 25-40% of participants said they would discriminate against ethnic minorities; an estimated 282 000 UK crimes were racially motivated in 1999; and a third of people from ethnic minorities constrain their lives through fear of racism. ^{8 9} Disparities between ethnic minority and majority groups in housing, education, arrests, and court sentencing are believed to be due to racism, not simply to economic fources. ^{8 9}

Cross sectional studies in the United . . . [Full text of this article]

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Relevant Article

Racism and health

Paramjit S Gill, Raj S Bhopal, Kwame McKenzie, and Ruby Kaul
BMJ 2003 326: 880. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Bhui, K., Stansfeld, S., McKenzie, K., Karlsen, S., Nazroo, J., Weich, S. (2005). Racial/Ethnic Discrimination and Common Mental Disorders Among Workers: Findings From the EMPIRIC Study of Ethnic Minority Groups in the United Kingdom. Am. J. Public Health 95: 496-501 [Abstract] [Full text]  
• Gill, P. S, Bhopal, R. S, McKenzie, K., Kaul, R. (2003). Racism and health. BMJ 326: 880-880 [Full text]  

Rapid Responses:

Read all Rapid Responses

Racism, Discrimination, the NHS and what else?

L-F Ng
bmj.com, 10 Jan 2003 [Full text]

Kudos to Mr. McKenzie

Carol S. Rein, et al.
bmj.com, 10 Jan 2003 [Full text]

Challenge to racism must continue

Paramjit S Gill, et al.
bmj.com, 18 Jan 2003 [Full text]

Racism, stress and Cardiovascular Disease

Malcolm E Kendrick
bmj.com, 20 Jan 2003 [Full text]

Why emphasise the role of racism?

Kanchan J Bhan, et al.
bmj.com, 22 Jan 2003 [Full text]

Re: Challenge to racism must continue

Kwame J McKenzie
bmj.com, 22 Jan 2003 [Full text]

Re: Why emphasise the role of racism?

Kwame J McKenzie
bmj.com, 23 Jan 2003 [Full text]

No such thing as racism, then?

Peter Morrell
bmj.com, 23 Jan 2003 [Full text]

Racism's Impact on African-American's Health

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Conceptualisation from Shakespeare's Othello

Karl Marlowe
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Re: Conceptualisation from Shakespeare's Othello

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Racism and Aboriginal Health

Ruby Kaul
bmj.com, 26 Feb 2003 [Full text]