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The myth of meritocracy and African American health

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  • Kwate, N.O.A.
  • Meyer, L.H.

Abstract

Recent theoretical and empirical studies of the social determinants of health inequities have shown that economic deprivation, multiple levels of racism, and neighborhood context limit African American health chances and that African Americans' poor health status is predicated on unequal opportunity to achieve the American Dream. President Obama's election has been touted as a demonstration of American meritocracy-the belief that all may obtain the American Dream-and has instilled hope in African Americans. However, we argue that in the context of racism and other barriers to success, meritocratic ideology may act as a negative health determinant for African Americans.

Suggested Citation

  • Kwate, N.O.A. & Meyer, L.H., 2010. "The myth of meritocracy and African American health," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 100(10), pages 1831-1834.
    • Handle: RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2009.186445_2
    DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2009.186445
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    Cited by:

    1. Carmen H Logie & Jesse I R Jenkinson & Valerie Earnshaw & Wangari Tharao & Mona R Loutfy, 2016. "A Structural Equation Model of HIV-Related Stigma, Racial Discrimination, Housing Insecurity and Wellbeing among African and Caribbean Black Women Living with HIV in Ontario, Canada," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(9), pages 1-20, September.
    2. Efird, Caroline R. & Lightfoot, Alexandra F., 2020. "Missing Mayberry: How whiteness shapes perceptions of health among white Americans in a rural Southern community," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 253(C).
    3. Malat, Jennifer & Mayorga-Gallo, Sarah & Williams, David R., 2018. "The effects of whiteness on the health of whites in the USA," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 199(C), pages 148-156.
    4. Audrey Simons & Daniëlle Groffen & Hans Bosma, 2013. "Income-related health inequalities: does perceived discrimination matter?," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 58(4), pages 513-520, August.
    5. Came, Heather & Griffith, Derek, 2018. "Tackling racism as a “wicked” public health problem: Enabling allies in anti-racism praxis," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 199(C), pages 181-188.
    6. Neighbors, Harold W. & Mattingly, Delvon T. & Johnson, Janay & Morse, Kayla, 2023. "The contribution of research to racial health equity? Blame and responsibility in navigating the status quo of anti-black systemic racism," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 316(C).

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