Race, wealth and health: The role of reparations

Abstract

Background: Due to the ongoing legacy of structurally racist policies and practices in the U.S., Black Americans face great challenges to wealth accumulation and, as a result, may be more likely to report adverse health outcomes. However, little research has examined the potential impact of racial justice interventions like reparations on closing the racial health gap. Methods: Using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979, multi-level regression models were employed to assess race and wealth as predictors of self-rated health across general health, physical health, and mental health. Predicted probabilities analyzed the probability of reporting better health with the inclusion of three reparation estimations to Black respondents' wealth: Darity's land-based estimation, Craemer's wage-based estimation and the racial wealth gap. Results: The final sample included 2471 respondents. Race was a significant predictor of general health, with White respondents more likely to report excellent/very good health (OR = 1.35, p = 0.0047) compared to Black respondents. Wealth was a significant predictor for all health variables, with increased wealth linked to better health. In predicted probability models, reparations payments were associated with health such that as payments increased so did the probability of improved health for Black respondents across all three health measures. Only general health reported significant mean differences across race. Conclusion: Reparations payments may help narrow the racial health gap. However, reparative justice interventions should look beyond only using monetary reparations payments to dismantle systems of oppression that perpetuate current inequities.