Racial Disparities Continue To Put The Health of Black Children At Risk

There are disparities in children’s health directly resulting from poverty and racism. Children from low-income communities and communities of color often face higher levels of contaminants, pollution, and illnesses like ADHD and asthma. “Definitely the living environments can play a big part in healthcare,” says Hempstead. “The racism structure of how environments affect Black communities are strategic. With redlining areas, places that are not adequate to live in, people still have to live there. When you go to the doctors those type of symptoms or underlying medical issues that could be resolved are not addressed basically based on the color of a person skin.” When people advocate for health equity, the goal is to ensure that all people have the access and means to live a healthy life. But the often-unspoken truth underlying this challenge is that being a person of color in America – whatever your economic status is “bad for your health”. “Going back to health and environment, here in the United States this country’s founding was under the auspices of racism,” says Hempstead. “When you have these systems that are in place and in play, you [as a Black person or person of color] are attacked from...