History of Medical Racism

Humans have attempted to make meaning out of our physical differences for centuries. As this thinking evolved, the associations between disease and race grew closer—but not without political intent. This association has polluted our understanding about the relationship between race and health, leading to the continual use of outdated and harmful medical practices and perspectives in clinics around the world. In other words, the history of medical racism is one of colonialism and eugenics. Join us in this episode as we explore what this means, and how this historical evolution impacts today’s medical practice and politics.   Guests include Erica Charters, Professor of the Global History of Medicine at the University of Oxford, Carlos López Beltrán, Senior Researcher at Instituto de Investigaciones Filosóficas, National Autonomous University of Mexico, and Alexandre White, Assistant Professor in the Johns Hopkins Department of Sociology and in the Department of the History of Medicine. Access this episode's official transcript here.