Race Paradox Research Articles

"Entrepreneurship Challenges of Black African Caribbean Diaspora (BACD) in the United Kingdom: A Critical Race Theory Approach "

"There is a paucity of research on the institutionalised racial challenges facing minority entrepreneurs despite their contribution to the economy and society. Thus, the purpose of the study described here was to examine the entrepreneurship challenges faced by the Black, African, and Caribbean Diaspora (BACD) within the UK. Using the lens of critical race theory and the qualitative phenomenological interpretive approach, the data for the study was based on 27 interviews with BACD entrepreneurs to gain a greater understanding of the constraints and challenges they experience. Access to funding remains an issue, and the findings show that although BACD have a greater propensity to become entrepreneurs, they are more likely to be structurally and systemically constrained, perpetuating limited opportunities, social capital, and access to resources. Issues associated with BACD entrepreneurship, including racial discrimination, structural inequalities, institutionalised poverty, and systematic oppression, have significant implications for inclusive policies and practices as well as for recognising diversity. While generalising the findings may be constrained by its limited sample size, this paper provides new empirical insight into the challenges faced by BACD entrepreneurs in the UK and adds to a body of knowledge that can be utilised by entrepreneurs, policymakers, and the government. This is a departure from previous studies within the area of entrepreneurship. It also introduces a new selfcontradictory construct now presented as the Race Paradox."

Distinguishing distress from disorder: Black-white patterns in the determinants of and links between depressive symptoms and major depression

BackgroundBlack Americans experience higher levels of psychological distress but similar or lower rates of psychiatric disorders than Whites. This study aimed to clarify discordant distress-disorder patterns by distinguishing the sociodemographic and psychosocial risks (e.g. socioeconomic status, stress exposure) associated with distress and disorder among Blacks and Whites and by evaluating the distress-disorder linkage within and across racial groups. MethodsSecondary analysis of the Nashville Stress and Health Study (n=1,246), a cross-sectional community epidemiologic survey of Blacks and Whites in Nashville, Tennessee, was used to assess distress (CES-D depressive symptoms scale) and major depressive disorder (MDD; based on the CIDI). Race-stratified models assessed correlates of each outcome and the distress-disorder association among racial groups; interactions considered potential moderating effects of SES and stress exposure on this association within each group. ResultsDistress and disorder were differentially shaped by risk factors and varied by race. Increases in distress were associated with greater disorder risk among both racial groups. However, a significant interaction between distress and stress exposure indicated that odds of “chronic” MDD (lifetime and past-year prevalence) depends on level of stress exposure for Blacks only. ConclusionsThis study informs the “race paradox in mental health” by demonstrating that distress and disorder have etiologies that vary within and across racial groups, and the distress-disorder association depends on stress exposure among Black Americans. This has implications for public health practice, as pinpointing the protective mechanisms underlying Blacks’ low disorder rates despite elevated risk exposure may inform more effective avenues of intervention.

Psychiatric Disorders Among Older Black Americans: Within- and Between-Group Differences.

Psychiatric disorders impose significant personal, social, and financial costs for individuals, families, and the nation. Despite a large amount of research and several journals focused on psychiatric conditions, there is a paucity of research on psychiatric disorders among Black Americans (i.e., African Americans and Black Caribbeans), particularly older Black Americans. The present literature review examines research on psychiatric disorders among older Black Americans and provides a broad overview of research findings that are based on nationally representative studies. Collectively, this research finds: (1) older African Americans have lower rates of psychiatric disorders than younger African Americans; (2) family support is not protective of psychiatric disorders, whereas negative interaction with family members is a risk factor; (3) everyday discrimination is a risk factor for psychiatric disorders; (4) both older African Americans and African American across the adult age range have lower prevalence rates of psychiatric disorders than non-Latino whites; (5) Black Caribbean men have particularly high rates of depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, and suicide attempts; and (6) a significant proportion of African American older adults with mental health disorders do not receive professional help. This literature review also discusses the “Race Paradox” in mental health, the Environmental Affordances Model, and the importance of investigating ethnicity differences among Black Americans. Future research directions address issues that are directly relevant to the Black American population and include the following: (1) understanding the impact of mass incarceration on the psychiatric disorders of prisoners’ family members, (2) assessing the impact of immigration from African countries for ethnic diversity within the Black American population, (3) examining the impact of racial identity and racial socialization as potential protective factors for psychiatric morbidities, and (4) assessing racial diversity in life-course events and their impact on mental health.

The race paradox in subjective wellbeing among older Americans

ABSTRACTThis study aims to assess racial differences in subjective wellbeing (SWB) and to examine whether the pathways of social support and social engagement to SWB vary by racial groups in the United States of America. Using a local sample (N = 1,035) and a nationally representative sample of the Health and Retirement Study (N = 7,718), we compared life satisfaction and happiness between non-Hispanic Whites and Blacks aged 55 and over. We evaluated the extent to which race, other socio-demographic characteristics, health, social engagement and social support explained the variances in SWB and examined the moderation effects of race on the relationships of SWB with age, social support and social engagement. Multiple regression analyses showed that non-Hispanic Blacks were at least as satisfied as, and even happier than White peers, after equalising social resources and health variables. Social support was significantly related to SWB, and it seemed that positive support was more important to Whites than to Blacks in predicting life satisfaction. In addition, the racial crossover effect existed, that is, the old-old (80+) Blacks were happier than their White peers. Findings indicate a national trend of the race paradox in SWB and underscore the importance of social support in promoting older adults’ wellbeing. Future research is recommended to investigate other potential mechanisms among Black older Americans to explain their relatively better SWB.

Atrial fibrillation: Puzzling out the race paradox.

Atrial fibrillation: Puzzling out the race paradox.

Relationships of choice: Can friendships or fictive kinships explain the race paradox in mental health?

African Americans typically exhibit similar or better mental health outcomes than whites, an unexpected pattern given their disproportionate exposure to psychosocial stressors. The “race paradox in mental health” has been attributed to presumed stronger social ties among blacks but there is scarce empirical research in this regard. Using data from the 2001–2003 National Survey of American Life (N=4086), I test whether more abundant and higher quality friendships and fictive kin relationships among African Americans (if they exist) account for the race paradox in mental health. I find few race differences in the quantity and quality of friendships and fictive kinships and these differences did not explain the race paradox in mental health. Future research should investigate other potential resilience mechanisms among African Americans to explain their relatively positive mental health outcomes.

Can social relationships explain the race paradox in mental health

Biomedical research consistently finds that Blacks have worse physical health than Whites, an expected pattern given Blacks' greater exposure to psychosocial stress, poverty, and discrimination. Yet there is surprising lack of consensus regarding race differences in mental health, with most scholars finding similar or better mental health outcomes among Blacks than Whites. Past research often attributes this “race paradox in mental health” to the notion that Blacks have stronger family networks than Whites, yet few studies have explicitly tested whether stronger family relationships among Blacks (if they exist) can account for these findings. Using data from the 2003–2005 National Survey of American Life (N = 4,259) revealed that minimal race differences in family relationships fail to explain the race paradox in mental health. The results have implications for mental health measurement, the provision of culturally appropriate mental health care, and how scholars understand the nature of family relationships among Black Americans.

Can Family Relationships Explain the Race Paradox in Mental Health?

Biomedical research consistently finds that Blacks have worse physical health than Whites, an expected pattern given Blacks' greater exposure to psychosocial stress, poverty, and discrimination. Yet there is surprising lack of consensus regarding race differences in mental health, with most scholars finding similar or better mental health outcomes among Blacks than Whites. Past research often attributes this “race paradox in mental health” to the notion that Blacks have stronger family networks than Whites, yet few studies have explicitly tested whether stronger family relationships among Blacks (if they exist) can account for these findings. Using data from the 2003–2005 National Survey of American Life (N = 4,259) revealed that minimal race differences in family relationships fail to explain the race paradox in mental health. The results have implications for mental health measurement, the provision of culturally appropriate mental health care, and how scholars understand the nature of family relationships among Black Americans.

Unraveling the race paradox of achievement and self-views

Considerable evidence indicates that African American students achieve less academically than European American students. Yet, African American students hold more positive self-views than their European American counterparts. Previous studies that address these seemingly paradoxical findings focus on students in a relatively narrow age range and/or convenience samples. Therefore, the current study examines two common explanations for these seemingly paradoxical findings, among a large and diverse sample of African American and European American students (N = 1, 493) from elementary to post-secondary school and across the socioeconomic spectrum. Results indicate that among a diverse group of students and conceptualized in two different ways, African American students do not devalue academics. However, African American students are more likely than European American students to discount academic feedback.

Colored Governors of the Dutch Cape Colony? Reflections on the Race Paradox in South Africa

Colored Governors of the Dutch Cape Colony? Reflections on the Race Paradox in South Africa