For this discussion, you will discuss systemic racism related to the mass incarceration in the United States, focusing on how structural biases create health inequities. For context on this issue, please review one (or both) of the following sources:
Article: The Black Family in the Age of Mass Incarceration ( https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2015/10/the-black-family-in-the-age-of-mass-incarceration/403246/ )
Video: Mass Incarceration, Visualized (2:33) ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u51_pzax4M0 )
In your the post, please address the following questions:
Part 1: Mechanisms of Inequity: How Mass Incarceration of Black Communities Impacts Health
Structural Mechanisms and Bias: What are the structural mechanisms (e.g., systemic biases) that lead to the mass incarceration of Black communities in the United States?
The Inequities of Systemic Racism: How do these factors impact health status (i.e., the health inequities) of Black communities?
Part 2: Ecological Perspectives: Barriers to Achieving Health Equity with Mass Incarceration of Black Communities
Organizational Level: What organizational policies (e.g., prisons, police departments, etc.) contribute to the mass incarceration of Black communities in the United States? Provide an example.
Community Level: Using the theoretical constructs of a health behavior theory at the community level, describe the challenges with achieving health equity for Black communities facing unjust incarceration rates.
Societal Level: Why is criminal justice reform challenging in the United States? Describe the barriers to achieving health equity at the societal level—using theoretical constructs of health behavior theories.
Part 3: Overcoming Barriers: Strategies for Addressing Structural Bias, Social Inequities, and Systemic Racism
Health in All Policies: How may CDC’s Health in All Policies (HiAP) framework address mass incarceration of Black communities?
Advocacy and Social Stratification: If a policy could immediately “fix” the mass incarceration of Black communities in the United States, why would it still be necessary to plan health advocacy efforts and/or support coalitions related to this issue? Try to form connections to Max Weber’s theory of social stratification (i.e., wealth, power, status).
