Racism deteriorates health of blacks: study

Jet, August 19, 1996

A recent study of racial confrontations between Black women and White people by a Duke University researcher has found that racism has a negative effect on Blacks' health.

Researcher Maya McNeilly's study, which was published in the International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, supports previous theories that chronic racism might be a factor that contributes to higher rates of hypertension and heart disease among Blacks. Hypertension strikes Blacks ages 25 to 44 at 20 times the rate it affects Whites of the same age.

In her study, McNeilly used 30 Black women volunteers who participated in two debates with a White person. One debate was about a racial topic while the other debate was about controversial, but non-racial topics. A second Black person was also present during each debate, in some cases offering supportive comments and gestures. Other times they just sat quietly.

"We thought that this interactive confrontation with provocation would be a lot more lifelike," McNeilly said.

During each debate, researchers measured the heart rate and blood pressure of the Black volunteers. Their heart rate and blood pressure shot up and remained high until the confrontations ended. They were also rated on emotions such as anger, resentment and anxiety.

The Black volunteers' blood pressure rose as much as 40% higher during the racial debates than during the non-racial ones. Their heart rates were as much as 61% higher during the racist confrontations. Emotions in some cases ran as much as seven times higher.