Issue 16 - Intersectionality and Structural Racism
Welcome back to Quarterly.
In the final issue of Quarterly for 2024, we present three pieces of work about structural racism and intersectionality. For our popular culture section, we have an excerpt of the book Unheard: The Medical Practice of Silencing by Rageshri Dhairyawan. Unheard unpacks the history and factors which contribute to the erasure of patient perspectives in the clinic. Our commentary features work by Dr Zara Trafford from the Department of Global Health at Stellenbosch University. Her commentary, The health of Black disabled boy children: an oversight for intersectionality? examines how these intersecting factors create profound barriers to health and wellbeing, emphasising the urgent need for anti-racist, disability-inclusive approaches in both global and local contexts. Finally, in the spirit of looking back on the past year, we have written a short summary of the work we’re doing at R&H. We also selected articles from earlier Quarterly issues to trace our journey from racism, intersectionality and individual health all the way to the structural level.
Thank you for reading Quarterly. We’re looking forward to sharing our new Quarterly theme with you next year.
Have a peaceful new year!
Reflecting on a Remarkable Year: Race & Health 2024 in Review
As 2024 comes to a close, Race & Health reflects on a year of impactful initiatives, collaborations, and contributions to advancing health equity globally. From innovative projects to research collaborations, here’s a look at the strides we made together:
Amplifying Voices Through Storytelling
This year, we launched a podcast mini-series in collaboration with Delan Devakumar's Global Health Lives, shining a spotlight on the stories of individuals working at the intersection of global health and health equity. Through engaging conversations, the series highlighted former episodes featuring diverse experiences and underscored the importance of inclusive narratives in shaping better health systems.
Progress in the Lancet Commission on Racism and Child Health
The Lancet Commission on Racism and Child Health held two pivotal meetings this year, bringing Commissioners together to discuss progress and updates for the upcoming report. These discussions are shaping a comprehensive exploration of how racism affects child health globally, ensuring that critical voices and perspectives drive the Commission’s outcomes.
Envisioning Environmental Equity 2
In partnership with young people from MAPA (Most Affected People and Areas) communities across four countries, we launched the second phase of Envisioning Environmental Equity activities. This initiative focuses on promoting climate and health justice, empowering youth to lead the charge for equitable environmental solutions.
New Publications
Our team contributed to several influential publications, advancing understanding of racism, health inequity, and systemic challenges worldwide. You can explore the full list of new work by our network members below. Some highlights include:
"Racism and health inequity: a global syndemic for children" by Devakumar et al. in The Lancet, shedding light on how systemic racism perpetuates health disparities among children globally.
"Racism and Health in South Korea" by Lee et al. in The Lancet Regional Health – Western Pacific, a comprehensive review of racism’s impact on health in South Korea.
"Protecting children from racism: urgent health system actions" by English et al. in The Lancet, calling for immediate measures to safeguard children from systemic discrimination.
Other impactful works explored issues ranging from far-right rhetoric in the UK to the resilience of migrant adolescents in Mexico.
Each of these publications reflects our commitment to addressing racism and discrimination as critical health issues, offering actionable insights and evidence for systemic change.
Looking Ahead
2024 was a year of growth, learning, and collaboration for Race & Health. Through podcasts, projects, meetings, and publications, we worked to confront health inequities and uplift the voices of those most affected by systemic injustices.
As we move into 2025, we remain dedicated to our mission: fostering a world where health is equitable, inclusive, and free from racism. Thank you to our partners, contributors, and supporters for making this year extraordinary. Together, we’ll continue to drive change. Stay tuned for what’s next as we embark on another year of advocacy and action!
New from our network in 2024:
"Racism and health inequity: a global syndemic for children" DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(24)02358-4
"Racism and Health in South Korea: History, Concept, and Systemic Review" DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2666-6065(24)00222-0
"Far-right riots in the UK: The culmination of years of anti-immigrant rhetoric and policies" DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(24)01713-6
"A portrait of racism and our health system" DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(24)01702-1
"Growing up in transit: Personal development and resistance of migrant adolescents travelling through Mexico unaccompanied" DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2666-6235(24)00034-5
"Protecting children from racism: urgent health system actions" DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(24)00299-X
"Ethnic discrimination, asking for fair treatment, and poor self-rated health among Korean Chinese workers in Korea: a gender analysis of 13,443 Korean Chinese waged workers in South Korea" DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-024-02160-0
"Racism, xenophobia and discrimination in European health systems: drivers of child migrant health inequities" DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2666-7762(23)00253-3
"We Dare to Dream: A message of hope and togetherness" DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(24)00009-6
"Gaza, armed conflict and child health" DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjpo-2023-002407