Black Mind & Body • By Dr. Bayo
As women, we often hear about the importance of breast cancer screening and early detection. However, for Black women, despite significant improvements in breast cancer care, a disturbing gap persists in outcomes between Black and White women: systemic racism.
The role of systemic racism and sexism cannot be ignored in understanding these disparities. Social and economic factors, often influenced by systemic racism, can create barriers to timely, high-quality healthcare. Moreover, the constant experience of racism and discrimination leads to chronic stress, or “allostatic overload,” which can have real, physical impacts on health outcomes.