Under the Skin: racism, inequality, and the health of a nation

In Under the Skin, Linda Villarosa explores the elements in the American healthcare system and society that cause Black people to live sicker and die quicker, such as slavery-era assumptions, environmental racism, and weathering. She also reveals how coping with the daily scourge of racism ages Black people prematurely.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: 14 July 2022
Publisher: Scribe Publications

The New York Times has named one of the ten best books of 2022, a groundbreaking work that delves into the complex and often overlooked relationship between race and health in America today. This powerful book offers a comprehensive account of the toll that racism takes on individuals and the health of the nation, shedding light on the pervasive racial disparities that exist in healthcare.

Black people in the US experience poorer health outcomes than white people at every stage of their lives, with black babies being more than twice as likely as white babies to die at birth or in the first year of life. Black individuals in every age group under sixty-five have significantly higher death rates than whites. These racial disparities in healthcare are impossible to ignore, yet they have never been fully investigated until now.

In her book, Under the Skin, Linda Villarosa exposes the underlying elements in the American healthcare system and society that contribute to these alarming health disparities. Villarosa argues that medical texts and instruments still carry assumptions from the slavery era, assuming that black bodies are fundamentally different from white bodies. Numerous studies have shown that black patients receive worse treatment and outcomes in medical settings. Furthermore, black people are more likely to live in dirtier, more polluted communities due to environmental racism, which exacerbates their health risks.

One of the most striking aspects of Under the Skin is Villarosa's exploration of the phenomenon of weathering, which refers to the premature aging of black people as a result of coping with the daily scourge of racism. Weathering takes a toll on physical and mental health, leading to a range of health problems, including heart disease, diabetes, and depression. Villarosa's book offers incontrovertible proof of the impact of racism on health, through powerful human stories that showcase the experiences of individuals and communities affected by these disparities.

Under the Skin is a searing indictment of a broken healthcare system in the age of American decline. The book is filled with empathy and sharp-sighted journalism, as Villarosa skillfully weaves together personal narratives, scientific research, and historical context to shed light on the complex issues at hand. Jacqueline Woodson, bestselling author of Red at the Bone, praises Villarosa's work as "astute as it is groundbreaking, as brilliant as it is timely." This book is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the true toll of racism on health and work towards creating a more equitable and just society.

Weight: 362g
Dimension: 153 x 234 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781912854028