Social determinants of health holding back Black Americans

Black People Are Often Unfairly Blamed For Health Disparities—Which Ignores Everything We Know About Being Well

When most people think about health and wellness, especially when they want to improve it, their thoughts tend to turn to lifestyle: things like food, exercise, and self-care practices. But the reality is that these lifestyle practices are deeply linked to access and have a significant impact on health outcomes. Historically, conversations about health—especially when talking about health in Black communities—have overlooked what’s known as social determinants of health.

Social determinants of health are generally recognized as conditions in the environments where people live, work, study and play. They include variables like socioeconomic status, employment, access to safe and affordable housing, health care, and access to affordable nutritious food. These variables directly impact and influence health outcomes, disease rates, and illness.