Chapter 24 Flashcards
What did the Nigerian immigrant realize after living in the U.S. for many years?
He was seen as Black before anything else, and this identity subjected him to racism and discrimination, impacting his health.
How did the Nigerian man’s health compare to his father’s back in Nigeria?
Despite his father living to 90 with minimal health issues, the man developed high blood pressure and early signs of diabetes by age 54—conditions linked to the stress of being Black in America.
What physiological response is triggered by racial prejudice, even in benign settings?
Increased blood pressure and cortisol levels, leading to greater risk of stroke, diabetes, and heart disease.
What is the amygdala’s role in racial bias?
It activates within 30 milliseconds of seeing a Black face, perceiving it as a threat unless consciously overridden by personalizing the individual.
What is the significance of telomeres in this chapter?
Telomeres, which shorten with stress and cell division, are used as indicators of biological aging. Exposure to discrimination accelerates their shortening, especially among marginalized groups.
What is “weathering,” and who coined the term?
A concept by Arline Geronimus, weathering describes the cumulative toll of chronic stress and discrimination on the body, leading to premature aging and illness.
Do material advantages protect African Americans from health consequences of discrimination?
No. Middle-class African Americans often suffer worse health outcomes than poorer African Americans due to higher exposure to discrimination.
What paradox was found among Mexican-Americans regarding telomeres?
Poorer, less assimilated immigrants had longer (healthier) telomeres than more affluent, Americanized ones, likely due to insulation from daily discrimination.
What is visceral fat, and how does it relate to discrimination?
It is fat that surrounds internal organs, and chronic discrimination increases its presence, leading to greater health risks.
How does perceived discrimination affect white individuals?
When white women report experiencing discrimination, their health is also negatively affected, showing the universal biological toll of social inequity.
What did political scientist Andrew Hacker ask his students, and what was the outcome?
He asked how much money they’d need to live as a Black person for 50 years. Most said $50 million—$1 million per year—reflecting their understanding of racial disadvantages.
