Older African American Women: Systematic Racism, Health Disparities and Caregiving Responsibilities

African American women have disproportionally high prevalence, incidence, and mortality rates for most health conditions in comparison to White women. This book will explore some of the reasons for these disparities including problems within the health care system and societal institutions.

The disproportionally high number of COVID-19 deaths in the African American population, especially among African American women, have brought renewed attention to historical racial inequality and the role it plays in the daily lives of American women and black families in general. Recommendations incorporate practical implications of this research including identifying social and financial supports unique to older African American women and determining strategies to strengthen the health needs of African American families, which is also paramount to addressing economic, social and racial disparities of this population.

Drawing on data from a variety of sources, this book applies a systematic racism and intersectionality approach to how various social, demographic, economic, and health variables influence the outcomes and the overall health status of older African American women. As such, it will appeal to scholars in Sociology, Social Work, Nursing, Gerontology, Social Policy, Racial and Inequality Studies, African American Studies, Justice Studies, Culture, Ethnicity and Health Studies, and Public Health.

Dorothy Smith-Ruiz is Full Professor at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Her research projects include needs assessment and religious participation among African American grandparent caregivers, Mental Health and Mental Disorder among African Americans, the impact of mass incarceration on African American families, custodial African American grandmothers, and health of middle-aged and older African American women. Her recent publications include Contemporary African American Families: Achievements, Challenges, and Empowerment Strategies in the Twenty-First Century, co-authored with Sherri Lawson Clark and Marcia Watson (2017), and Black Families and Recession in the United States: The Impact of the Recession of 2007–2009 (2021) co-authored with Albert Kopak.

Marcia J. Watson-Vandiver is Associate Professor of Education at Towson University in Baltimore County, Maryland. Her research interests explore the educational experiences of Black students in U.S. schools. Her recent publications include The Healing Power of Education: Afrocentric Pedagogy as a Tool for Restoration and Liberation (2021) co-authored with Greg Wiggan, and Unbleaching the Curriculum: Enhancing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Beyond in Schools and Society (2023) co-authored with Greg Wiggan, Annette Teasdell, and Sheikia Talley-Matthews.

Debra C. Smith is Associate Professor of Africana Studies and an Affiliate Faculty member in Communication Studies and Medical Humanities at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Her research and teaching focus on African American representation in communication and popular culture, the portrayal of minorities in media and commerce, and integrating popular culture, language, and power into teaching strategies. Her recent publications include In Reflection: How the Presidency of Barack Obama Fueled The Black Man’s Burden (2024), and Co-brand Partnerships Making Space For The Next Black Girl: Backlash in Social Justice Branding (2021), co-authored with Channelle D. James and Merlyn A. Griffiths.