Racial Capitalism and Black–White Health Inequities in the United States: The Case of the 2008 Financial Crisis

Citation

DeAngelis, R. T. (2024). Racial Capitalism and Black–White Health Inequities in the United States: The Case of the 2008 Financial Crisis. Journal of Health and Social Behavior.

Abstract

Scholars cite racist political-economic systems as drivers of health inequities in the United States (i.e., racial capitalism). But how does racial capitalism generate health inequities? I address this open question within the historical context of predatory lending during the 2008 financial crisis. Relevant hypotheses are tested with multiple waves of data from Black and White participants of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (N = 8,877). Across socioeconomic strata, I find that Black participants report higher rates of foreclosure, eviction, repossession, delinquent bills, lost income, and new debts in the wake of the financial crisis. Using structural equation and quasi-experimental models, I then show that Black participants also self-report rapid health declines and increases in prescription drug abuse throughout this period, much of which is explained by chronic financial stress. I conclude that racial capitalism can generate health inequities by ensnaring Black Americans in a toxic web of financial exploitation and stress proliferation. © American Sociological Association 2024.

URL

https://doi.org/10.1177/00221465241260103

Keyword(s)

2008 financial crisis

Notes

Export Date: 13 August 2024; Cited By: 1; Correspondence Address: R.T. DeAngelis; Duke University, Durham, United States; email: reed.deangelis@duke.edu; CODEN: JHSBA

Reference Type

Journal Article

Journal Title

Journal of Health and Social Behavior

Author(s)

DeAngelis, R. T.

Year Published

2024

DOI

10.1177/00221465241260103

Reference ID

10454