4_elements of anti blackness

History of Anti-Blackness and Anti-Black Racism

• Race and anti-Black racism as defining characteristics of American life.

• 400 years of:

  • Chattel slavery

  • State-sanctioned terror

  • Legal and de facto segregation

  • Mass incarceration and over-policing

  • Voter disenfranchisement

  • Ongoing discrimination

• Rooted in the belief that Blackness is inferior and deserving of mistreatment.

• Anti-Blackness is foundational to U.S. society, influencing the wealthy white power structure and the perceptions of poor and middle-class whites.

• The election of Barack Obama and the rise of Donald Trump highlight deep anti-Black sentiments, evidenced through backlash and violent protests.

• Internalization of inferiority among Black individuals leads to colorism and division in the Black community.

• Anti-Blackness affects all life aspects including:

  • Education

  • Employment

  • Housing

  • Healthcare

  • Transportation

  • Criminal legal system

• Inequities persist over time, making competition for equity difficult.

Anti-Blackness and Anti-Black Racism

Core Components

• Destruction/Devaluation of Identity

  • White Americans justify discrimination by denying Black humanity.

  • Anti-Blackness viewed as necessary by whites to rationalize oppression.

  • Historical narratives dehumanized Black people, associating them with servitude or criminality.

  • This narrative allows for justification of policies (Jim Crow, policing practices).

• Criminalization

  • Attention to police killings of Black individuals (e.g., Eric Garner, Breonna Taylor) reveals systemic anti-Blackness.

  • Criminal legal system started with Black Codes designed to control freed Blacks post-emancipation.

  • Michelle Alexander discusses the collateral consequences of criminal status leading to systemic discrimination (employment, housing, education).

  • High arrest rates of Black individuals compared to whites despite similar usage rates of substances like marijuana.

Health Impacts of Anti-Blackness

• Anti-Black racism contributes to significant health disparities.

• Black individuals suffer from higher morbidity and lower life expectancy than other racial groups.

• Chronic stress linked to experiences of anti-Black racism accelerates biological aging (weathering).

• Institutional racism in healthcare affects treatment quality, particularly for Black women.

• COVID-19 pandemic: Black communities face disproportionate challenges due to structural anti-Black racism, linked to inadequate access to care and existing health issues.