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High-profile police shootings and deaths of black men in custody – or even while out jogging – bring cries of racism across the country. The May 25 death of George Floyd by a white police officer in Minneapolis and the shooting death of Ahmaud Arbery in Brunswick, Georgia on Feb. 23, 2020 by a white father and son have resulted in outrage and protests in cities across the U.S.
But, as a public health researcher who studies the effects of racism on the health of black men, I have found that the life-and-death effects of racism in the U.S. go far beyond police shootings. I also have found that, while racism harms many groups of people, black men are paying the highest cost.
As a result of racism, and associated poverty and injustice, life expectancy at birth of black men is 71.9 years, far below white women (81.2), black women (78.5), and white men (76.4). These are mainly because of black men’s higher risk of dying from several types of cancer, stroke, HIV, and homicide. Despite overall declining numbers of homicide in the U.S., homicide remains the number one cause of death for black males 10 to 24.
My research and that of many others strongly links these deaths and poor physical and mental health outcomes in general to racism. For black men in the U.S., racism is a daily experience that harms their health and leads to chronic disease and poor health. About 66% of blacks report high levels of day-to-day racial discrimination.
One example is being turned down for a job (as opposed to being treated differently on the job). On average, each black youth faces one major discriminatory experience each year. Discrimination is a major risk factor for health problems across the board, as shown by reviews.
There are also blocked opportunities for black men and other types of discrimination that are less frequent but very consequential, also called major discriminatory events. Combined, these discriminatory experiences make living harder and shorter for black men than for other race by gender groups. While discrimination is known to be a risk factor for premature death, heart disease, depression, and suicide, we know black men experience discrimination more than other groups, including black women.
As an associate professor of family medicine at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, a historically black medical school, I study how racism affects racial and ethnic minority people, particularly black men. My studies have shown that discrimination and racism are root causes of depression, anxiety, substance use and suicide, as well as poor physical health.
Education does not save black men
In a recent study, I found that a sense of mastery, which refers to people’s ability to take control of their life, could reduce psychological distress for black women. For black men, however, high levels of mastery were not enough to reduce psychological distress.
In another study, I compared black men and black women for the effect of their educational attainment on their depressive symptoms and psychological distress. I analyzed data of 3,570 black adults (2,299 females and 1,271 males) and found that education protects black men less than it protects black women from depressive symptoms and psychological distress. That means black men are at risk of depressive symptoms and psychological distress at all levels of educational attainment. That is, their success is not enough to reduce their depression and distress.
As all these studies have used nationally representative data. Thus, the results are generalizable to the U.S. people. They all show a pattern called diminished returns of economic and non-economic resources for black men. Although they are also seen for other race by gender groups, they are most pronounced for black men. As a result of these diminished returns, black men who have high levels of aspirations and motivation to get to the top of society still get sick, feel unhealthy and die early.
In other words, as long as U.S. unfairly treats black men, their very same resource would fail to protect them, so they show systemically poor outcomes, regardless of their status in the society.
Again, these are not limited to, but worst for, black men.
Racism in health care
Even the U.S. health care system treats black men worse than black women. This includes receiving a lower quality of health care compared to whites, and even black women. Such discrimination deteriorates their ability to manage their disease, so they develop worse outcomes and get sicker.
One of my papers shows that white men have a specific role in this. My work shows that anti-black bias is highest in white men than white women. This is very concerning because white men have the highest level of power in law, politics, police and many other institutions in the U.S. These all mean that odds are not in favor of black men.
Recent shootings of black men, either by police, or others, also shows that black men are specifically targeted by white men, the group which also is in charge of law and order. These all are examples of how social structures and biases cause poor health among black men.
Money doesn’t improve health for black men
Several of my studies have documented high risk of depression in black men and boys of high socioeconomic status. These studies shows higher, instead of lower, risk of depression as a result of socioeconomic mobility in the US.
One explanation for this is that they pay a very high price for their ticket to the top of the society. This journey also opens their eyes to the real inequalities that exist in the U.S. society.
In another study among black boys, high income increased the risk of depression, suggesting that high-income black boys are more, not less, depressed than low-income black boys. In yet another study of mine, 25 years’ follow-up of American adults showed that high education actually increases depressive symptoms of black men over time. I did not see this pattern in white men, white women or even black women.
In another study, I found that white men gain most life expectancy from their employment. The gain was smaller but still considerable for white women and black women. Black men, however, died earlier, regardless of their employment.
Thus, in todays’s U.S., racism is a root cause of poor health of black men. Given the societal structure, personal assets and ambitions such as advanced education, income and employment do not insulate black men from the racism of the American society they live in. In fact, these assets increase the likelihood of black men to be discriminated.
Many studies have shown that racism, discrimination, prejudice and related environmental stressors have a more prominent role in causing anxiety, depression, substance use, and poor physical health of black men than black women.
Questions we should ask ourselves as a society
I end this conversation with a few questions for my fellow Americans. How on earth can social mobility make the lives of white Americans easier, but not for black men? Why should social status increase rather than decrease black men’s exposure and vulnerability to discrimination? Why, for whites, does discrimination vanish if people attain high levels of success, but for black men, discrimination increases as they move up the social ladder? Why does success increase discriminatory experiences of black men?
Racism, however, is bad for everyone’s health, not just black men. It is just bad in a different way. Everyone dies sooner in a racist community. This is partially because societal inequalities increase people’s vulnerablities, even the most privileged ones, as I explained in another piece.
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Shervin Assari, Associate Professor of Family Medicine, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
The city of Santa Rosa declared a local state of emergency due to the violence and vandalism, and City Manager Sean McGlynn, in consultation with Police Chief Rainer Navarro, has implemented a citywide curfew that officials said is meant to keep the community safe.
The curfew is from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. daily through 5 a.m. Thursday, June 4.
During those hours, residents must stay home. City officials said those exempt from the curfew are first responders, essential city service employees, individuals who are in the course of traveling directly to and from work or to obtain medical assistance, credentialed media and persons who are experiencing homelessness who remain sheltered in place in a single location.
In addition, the curfew permits medical facilities, pharmacies, cannabis dispensaries and gas stations to remain open to the public.
Windsor’s curfew is between the hours of 9 p.m. and 5 a.m., and will last until Friday, June 5, at 5 a.m.
Windsor residents are required to stay home during curfew hours.
If you are not a Windsor resident, travel into the town is discouraged and enforcement action may be taken against you, officials said.
Dr. Gary Pace said the test results came in over the weekend.
The newest positive tests mean that the number of COVID-19 cases reported in Lake County has quadrupled over the past month.
All five of the new cases are stable, and four are isolating at home, Pace said.
The fifth is a jail inmate, the second inmate to have been found with the virus over the past month, as Lake County News has reported.
Lake County now has 12 active cases, and one previously-identified case has grown sicker and is hospitalized, according to the Public Health COVID-19 dashboard. That brings Lake County’s overall case hospitalization total to three.
Fourteen cases to date have recovered and no deaths have occurred, Public Health reported.
Approximately 2,082 tests have been conducted and 67 test results are pending, the dashboard showed.
Lt. Corey Paulich of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office said the newly confirmed COVID-19 inmate – along with every inmate who had direct contact with this inmate – is in isolation.
Paulich said all staff and inmates who had direct contact with that inmate and were willing have been tested and the sheriff’s office is expecting to receive those results on Tuesday.
“We are continuing to conduct surveillance testing of staff and inmates,” Paulich said.
Paulich said the sheriff’s office is working with the jail medical provider and Public Health to remove the affected inmates from medical isolation per Centers for Disease Control recommendations based on a “symptom-based strategy.”
On March 12, the sheriff's office instituted and continues enhanced measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the jail, including suspending jail programs and modified visitation procedures, screening all staff prior to entry to the facility, placing inmates who are in custody for minor offenses on home detention, enhanced medical screening at booking, wearing of face masks by staff and inmates, designating bed spaces for isolation and quarantine, and comprehensive regular cleaning and disinfecting.
Overall to date, 28 COVID-19 cases have been reported in Lake County. However, Pace said Lake County's current caseload now stands at 26. He said that's because two of the patients previously identified in Lake County returned to their home county, where their cases will now be recorded.
Pace said most of the recently identified cases appear to be clearly connected to a previously known case. Others contracted COVID-19 outside of Lake County. “Investigations and contact tracing are ongoing, but there remains no evidence of significant community transmission.”
Pace said that, to protect the identities of the affected individuals, no further information will be released at this time. “We can appreciate there is public interest in additional details, and when we reach 50 cases, we will begin sharing demographic information.”
As for the status of the county’s efforts to reopen, Pace said to this point the health systems have been able to manage and contain the cases as they have emerged.
“Therefore, the plan remains to allow indoor dining to resume at Lake County restaurants this Thursday, June 4. If the number of cases rises significantly, we may have to slow the opening process down,” Pace said.
“People’s willingness and ability to continue to practice social distancing and comply with masking requirements will have a significant effect on the rate at which COVID-19 spreads. As long as it stays at a manageable level, we can continue to move forward with gradual relaxation of the restrictions,” Pace added.
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Lt. Corey Paulich said the bicyclist was Michael Dale Anthony Everson, 20.
Everson was killed in a crash with a vehicle that occurred at about 10:40 p.m. Sunday at Highway 53 and Dam Road, said Clearlake Police Chief Andrew White.
White said that his agency was assisted in the investigation by the California Highway Patrol’s Clear Lake Area office.
Authorities have so far not released the findings of their investigation into the crash or what led to it.
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CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A man died on Sunday night when he was hit by a vehicle while riding his bicycle in Clearlake.
Clearlake Police Chief Andrew White said the fatal crash occurred at about 10:40 p.m. Sunday at Highway 53 and Dam Road.
White confirmed that the adult male was hit by a vehicle and killed while on his bicycle.
Late Sunday night, officers were still on scene investigating along with the help of the California Highway Patrol, White said.
The Clearlake Police Department issued a late-night Nixle alert asking people to use an alternate route on Highway 53 in the southbound lane from Dam Road to Anderson Ranch Parkway due to the investigation.
White said he anticipated the release of the victim’s name should take place on Monday.
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The board will meet virtually beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, June 2, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.
The meeting can be watched live on Channel 8, online at https://countyoflake.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx and on the county’s Facebook page. Accompanying board documents, the agenda and archived board meeting videos also are available at that link.
Because the meeting will be held virtually, members of the public are asked to submit comments on items to
The board will get its weekly update from Public Health Officer Dr. Gary Pace at 9:02 a.m.
In an untimed item, the board will continue a discussion that began last week regarding resumption of in-person meetings.
In another untimed item, the board will consider rescinding an ordinance it passed on May 5 to establish temporary safety protocols for members of the public visiting county facilities, requiring the use of face coverings absent the option of a minimum 6-foot separation or the use of protective shielding.
County Administrative Officer Carol Huchingson said the matter is being brought to the board at request of Chair Moke Simon.
“At the time your Board adopted this Ordinance, there was no Public Health Order in place requiring the use of face coverings, although an Order has more recently been put into effect. Since the Public Health Order essentially supersedes the Urgency Ordinance, the Chair is recommending your Board consider rescinding the Urgency Ordinance effective immediately,” Huchingson wrote in her report to the board.
The full agenda follows.
CONSENT AGENDA
5.1: Sitting as Air Quality Management District Board of Directors, authorize the air pollution control officer to sign and submit the grant agreement between the district and CARB for AB197 Emissions Inventory District Grant, and sign all other program documents.
5.2: Adopt resolution approving the amended Agreement No.19-0237 with the state of California, Department of Food and Agriculture for exotic pest detection in the amount of $38,223 for FY 2019-20.
5.3: Approve Amendment No. 1 to the agreement between the county of Lake and Redwood Community Services Inc. for the Lake County WRAP Program, Foster Care Program, and Intensive Services Foster Care Program for specialty mental health services for fiscal year 2019-20 from April 1, 2020, through June 30, 2020, for an increase in fees and payment terms due to COVID-19.
5.4: (a) Waive the formal bidding process, pursuant to Lake County Code Section 38.2, as it is not in the public interest due to the unique nature of goods or services; and (b) approve the agreement between the county of Lake and Hilltop Recovery Services for substance use disorder intensive outpatient program and outpatient drug free services for FY 2020-21, for a contract maximum of $175,000 and authorize the board chair to sign the agreement.
5.5: (a) Waive the formal bidding process, pursuant to Lake County Code Section 38.2, as it is not in the public interest due to the unique nature of goods and/or services; and (b) approve agreement between county of Lake and High Country Security for commercial fire alarm installation and monitoring at 14092 Lakeshore Drive, Clearlake for fiscal years 2019-20 and 2020-21 for a contract maximum of $28,366.70 and authorize the board chair to sign the agreement.
5.6: Approve minutes of the Board of Supervisors meetings on March 10 and 24, 2020, and May 12.
5.7: Adopt resolution approving county of Lake Health Services to apply for grant funding in the amount of $176,856 through the County Medical Services Program Governing Board (CMSP) for Fiscal Year 2019-20.
5.8: (a) Approve the purchase of a mobile radio communications vault for the Goat Mountain repeater site (b) approve budget transfer and (c) authorize the Sheriff or his designee to sign the Purchase Order in an amount of $119,064.
5.9: Approve contract for commissary services between the county of Lake and Keefe Commissary Network LLC with costs neutral to the county.
5.10: Approve second amendment to lease agreement between county of Lake and Gary Sada and Sheila Sada for $86,332.68, from July 1, 2020, to June 30, 2021, for the property located at 926 S. Forbes St. in Lakeport and authorize the chair to sign.
5.11: Approve second amendment to lease agreement between county of Lake and Gary Weiser and Shelly Weiser for $15,000 per fiscal year, from July 1, 2020, to June 30, 2025, for the Property Located at 4477 Moss Ave., Unit C, in Clearlake and authorize the chair to sign.
5.12: Approve amendment one to the agreement between the county of Lake and SCS Engineers for CEQA environmental review and regulatory agency permitting services for the Eastlake Landfill Expansion Project in the increased amount of $121,800 and authorize the chair to sign.
5.13: Adopt resolution establishing county-maintained mileage for 2019.
5.14: Approve Award of Bid for the Clayton Creek Road at Clayton Creek Bridge Replacement Project, Bid No. 20-10; Federal Aid Project No. BRLO-5914(077) and authorize the chair to sign.
5.15: Approve addendum to agreement by and between the county of Lake and Megabyte Systems Inc. to purchase the transient occupancy tax module for the amount of $25,000 and authorize the chair to sign.
5.16: Approve to Waive 900-hour limit for extra help quagga mussel coordinator Edward (Marty) Jones.
5.17: Approve to waive 900-hour limit for extra help field technician II Daniella Cazares.
TIMED ITEMS
6.1, 9:01 a.m.: Public input.
6.2, 9:02 a.m.: Consideration of update on COVID-19.
UNTIMED ITEMS
7.2: Consideration of timeline for resumption of in-person Board of Supervisors meetings.
7.3: Consideration of rescission of Urgency Ordinance No. 3091 establishing temporary safety protocols for county facilities to the public during the ongoing COVID-19 state of emergency.
7.4: Consideration of resolution further amending Resolution 2019-79 to clarify the procedures used in the collection of taxes due pursuant to the Lake County cannabis cultivation tax ordinance.
CLOSED SESSION
8.1: Conference with Legal Counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code sec. 54956.9 (d)(1) – FERC Project No. 77, Potter Valley Hydroelectric Project.
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