Work

The Myth of Meritocracy and African American Health

Year: 2010

Type: article

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.

Source: American Journal of Public Health

DOI: 10.2105/ajph.2009.186445

Authors: Naa Oyo A. Kwate, Ilan H. Meyer

Institutions: Columbia University, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

Language: English

Topic: Health disparities and outcomes

Subfield: Health

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Reduced inequalities, Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funder: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation