Racism and Stress: How a Zero Sum Approach Harms The Sum of Us

Authors

Laura ChyuFollow
Erin GrinshteynFollow

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Experiencing racism is a pervasive and persistent stressor that not only negatively impacts the health of people of color (POC), but all members of a population, including Whites. This essay discusses how experiencing racism over a lifetime may cause wear and tear on the body and increase risk for premature disease, disability, and death. The authors explore how racial capitalism has created a deeply flawed economic system that exploits POC and foments hostility among working-class whites towards POC. Blue collar workers of all races currently suffer from economic misery and social malaise. Recent alarming trends of increases in death rates among middle-aged working class White men and women supports Heather McGhee’s thesis in her book, The Sum of Us, that racism harms all members of a population.

Citation Information

Chyu, Laura and Grinshteyn, Erin (2022) "Racism and Stress: How a Zero Sum Approach Harms The Sum of Us," Journal of Interdisciplinary Perspectives and Scholarship: Vol. 7, Article 6.
Available at: https://repository.usfca.edu/jips/vol7/iss1/6