Structural racism and its impact on the health of Brazilian Afro-descendant adolescents

Abstract

The objective was to reflect on the impact of structural racism on the health of Brazilian Afro-descendant adolescents, considering the political and social context of the post-abolition period, when a new configuration of exploitation and maintenance of social inequalities related to freed slaves and their descendants began. It is during adolescence, a phase of life linked to the social and cultural context, and not just determined by the chronological period of life, when black individuals generally begin to experience the stigma of race more consciously. This essay initially presents the historical path of the social construction of race in patterns of domination and racism. It then reflects, based on structural racism, on the role of monopoly capitalism in the development and economic growth of post-abolitionist Brazil, as one of the main mechanisms for recruiting and maintaining the black population in lower and marginalized social classes. Finally, it discusses how racism impacts the health of Brazilian Afro-descendant adolescents based on the ecosocial theory, proposed by Nancy Krieger, and representative bibliography. Structural racism in our society impacts the health of black adolescents, with a strong determination in the health-disease process; Therefore, it is necessary to combat historical disparities, to build a more democratic and egalitarian society.