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A review by kaylo88
Systemic: How Racism is Making Us Sick by Layal Liverpool
emotional
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
4.0
I found this book an great read and was extremely well written. The author's approach to discussing race and racism in relation to health and wellbeing was incredibly insightful and well-articulated. Unlike other books on race which are often more general, this one delved into the intricate connections between racism and health, offering a detailed exploration that I found to be quite compelling.
One chapter that particularly stood out to me was the one on environmental racism. It shed light on the profound impact of not only experiencing racism but also living under the constant threat of it on one's everyday life and overall health. If your body is constantly in fight or flight due to the threat of racism it is obvious going to have a detrimental affect on health and wellbeing.
While I did notice some generalisations in the text and some scientific studies used as examples have relatively small participant numbers, I appreciated the book's strong scientific foundation. The extensive bibliography also made it easy for me to delve deeper into the referenced studies.
The book also brought to my attention the issue of racial bias in medicine, illustrating how medical professionals often only encounter examples of conditions on lighter white skin. This systemic bias hinders the recognition and treatment of conditions in individuals with different skin tones, which was a perspective I hadn't fully considered before.
The author also emphasised the critical importance of data in addressing discrimination. This resonated with me, as I encounter similar challenges with data in my professional life. The book highlighted how the absence of accurate data not only hinders efforts to address discrimination but also affects various aspects of intersectionality. I was particularly struck by the discussion of the sensitive nature of medical data collection in some European countries, such as Germany, due to historical fears and valid concerns about privacy and misuse.
At times I did find that the book could be a little repetitive but overall, I thought it was, thoughtfully structured, and truly eye-opening for those who may not have firsthand experience with racism.
One chapter that particularly stood out to me was the one on environmental racism. It shed light on the profound impact of not only experiencing racism but also living under the constant threat of it on one's everyday life and overall health. If your body is constantly in fight or flight due to the threat of racism it is obvious going to have a detrimental affect on health and wellbeing.
While I did notice some generalisations in the text and some scientific studies used as examples have relatively small participant numbers, I appreciated the book's strong scientific foundation. The extensive bibliography also made it easy for me to delve deeper into the referenced studies.
The book also brought to my attention the issue of racial bias in medicine, illustrating how medical professionals often only encounter examples of conditions on lighter white skin. This systemic bias hinders the recognition and treatment of conditions in individuals with different skin tones, which was a perspective I hadn't fully considered before.
The author also emphasised the critical importance of data in addressing discrimination. This resonated with me, as I encounter similar challenges with data in my professional life. The book highlighted how the absence of accurate data not only hinders efforts to address discrimination but also affects various aspects of intersectionality. I was particularly struck by the discussion of the sensitive nature of medical data collection in some European countries, such as Germany, due to historical fears and valid concerns about privacy and misuse.
At times I did find that the book could be a little repetitive but overall, I thought it was, thoughtfully structured, and truly eye-opening for those who may not have firsthand experience with racism.