Structural Racism: Causes of Health Inequities in the U.S.

What You'll Learn

Describe the impact of structural racism on individuals.
Identify and discuss how historical events, policies and socio-political institutions have shaped and contributed to current health inequities.
Apply public writing strategies to work against racial inequities in health.

3 Modules

18 Hours

6 hrs per module (approx.)

About Structural Racism: Causes of Health Inequities in the U.S.

Racial health disparities - differences in health outcomes based on race - are rampant in the U.S., and many incorrectly assume these are due to differences in behavior or genetics. To understand these differences, and ultimately identify solutions to eliminate these disparities, we need to dig deeper and look at the root causes. We need to examine how our socio-political institutions have racial inequities embedded within their policies and practices. We need to re-examine history to learn how and why race was created and how it was used to advance the interests of whites. We need to examine how state violence is selectively used to reinforce racial inequities.

Learners in this course will be guided through these examinations in order to gain a deeper understanding of why health disparities exist in the U.S. and what will be necessary to eliminate these disparities. Answering questions pertaining to course materials will give learners the opportunity to self-reflect in an effort to deepen their thinking about health inequities.

Additionally, course assignments will give learners the opportunity to practice advocacy skills through the creation of writing products intended to convince decision-makers to change their perspective. To fix the problem we need to accurately diagnose it, and this course will help learners diagnose the root causes of the problem.

By the end of this course, learners will be able to:
- Describe the impact of structural racism on individuals.
- Identify policies and events that shaped current racial health inequities.
- Discuss how historical events contributed to current racial health inequities.
- Describe how inequities in institutions like schools, businesses, and policing contribute to current racial health inequities.
- Apply public writing strategies to work against racial inequities in health.

Skills You'll Gain

What You'll Earn

Certificate of Completion: Certificates of completion acknowledge knowledge acquired upon completion of a non-credit course or program.

Experience Type: 100% Online
Format: Self-Paced
Subject: Health

Social Sciences
Platform: Coursera

Welcome Message

Welcome to Structural Racism: Causes of Health Inequities in the U.S. This course examines how historical, political, and institutional forces create and sustain racial health disparities. Learners analyze root causes and practice advocacy through applied writing assignments.
This abbreviated syllabus description was created with the help of AI tools and reviewed by staff. The full syllabus is available to those who enroll in the course.

Course Schedule

Module 1: Course Introduction & Policy, Politics, and Racial Health Inequities

Video: Welcome to the Course!
Reading: Meet Your Instructors
Reading: Course Syllabus
Reading: Overview of Writing Assignments
Reading: Community Guidelines
Reading: Course Pre-Survey
Reading: Introduction and Guidelines for This Week
Video: Introduction to Systems, Health Equity, and Inequities
Reading: Read and Listen: Regulations, Laws, and Legal Practices Affecting Health Equities & How Systemic Racism Determines Black Health & Wealth In Chicago
Video: Systemic Racism and Health
Video: Health Equity and Inequities: COVID-19 Case
Video: The Affordable Care Act (ACA): Historical and Contemporary Stakes
Reading: Read: The Fight for Health Care has Always Been About Civil Rights & How Obamacare Saved Detroit
Reading: Watch: Medicare and Medicaid at 50: America's Entitlement Programs in the Age of Affordable Care
Video: Race, Politics and Health: Interview with Holly Jarman
Reading: Read: Survey reveals racial, political differences in COVID-19 responses
Reading: Week 1 Wrap Up and Key Takeaways
Reading: Brief Introduction to the Workbook Tool
App Item: Week 1 Writing Assignment in Workbook
Discussion Prompt: Policy, Politics, and Racial Health Inequities
Graded: Week 1 Quiz

Module 2: Historical Roots of Health Inequities

Reading: Introduction and Guidelines for this Week
Reading: Read: The Importance of Teaching History of Inequities in Public Health Programs
Video: Who invented race, racism, & white supremacy?
Reading: Optional Listen: How Race Was Made (Seeing White, Part 2)
Video: How was race, racism, & white supremacy first codified into law in the US?
Reading: Listen: Made in America (Seeing White, Part 3)
Video: What is Settler Colonialism & How Does it Impact Health?
Reading: Optional Reading: The American Indian Holocaust: Healing Historical Unresolved Grief
Reading: Watch: Impact of Unresolved Trauma on American Indian Health Equity by Donald Warne
Video: Racialization & Marginalization of Immigrants in the U.S.
Reading: Read: Borders, Laborers, and Racialized Medicalization Mexican Immigration and US Public Health Practices in the 20th Century
Reading: Optional Listen: Immigration Nation & Citizen Thind (Seeing White, Part 10)
Video: 20th Century Policies as Affirmative Action for Whites
Reading: Watch and Listen: Housing Segregation In Everything & Location! Location! Location!
Reading: Optional Listen: White Affirmative Action
Reading: Optional Reading: What is Owed
Video: History & Health Inequities: Interview with Jannah Bierens
Reading: Optional Read: The Case for Reparations
Reading: Week 2 Wrap Up and Key Takeaways
App Item: Week 2 Writing Assignment in Workbook
Discussion Prompt: Historical Roots of Health Inequities
Graded: Week 2 Quiz

Module 3: State Violence and Health Inequities

Reading: Introduction and Guidelines for this Week
Reading: Read: Ending police violence requires public health-based approach: APHA statement guiding work, outreach
Video: Law Enforcement Making Its Way Into Your Body
Reading: Explore and Read: Mapping Police Violence & Pain of police killings ripples outward to traumatize Black people and communities across US
Reading: Read: The fallout of police violence is killing black women like Erica Garner
Reading: Watch and Read: Ice El Hielo & How a major immigration raid affected infant health
Reading: Read: Get Armed Police Out of Emergency Rooms
Reading: Read: This How Racial Health Inequities Undermine Democracy
Video: Law Enforcement Violence is Patterned by Race
Reading: Read: Multiple studies find racial profiling in traffic stops
Reading: Read: An undercount of Latinos killed by police
Reading: Read: The forgotten minority in police shootings
Reading: Optional Read: New Report Details How and Why Routine Traffic Stops Turn Deadly
Reading: Read: How Racial Profiling Goes Unchecked in Immigration Enforcement
Reading: Read: Tired of Being Called a Terrorist
Reading: Read: The claim that drugs killed George Floyd relies on a racist trope
Video: Law Enforcement and Community Response: Interview with Maria Thomas
Reading: Read: What works to reduce police brutality
Reading: Read: John Legend: We need to #SayHerName: Happy birthday, Breonna Taylor (Op‑ed)
Reading: Read: Six Ideas for a Cop-Free World
Video: Race, Drugs and Law Enforcement Violence: Part 1
Video: Race, Drugs, and Law Enforcement Violence: Part 2
Reading: Week 3 Wrap Up and Key Takeaways
App Item: Week 3 Writing Assignment
Discussion Prompt: State Violence and Health Inequities
Graded: Week 3 Quiz
Graded: Final Course Writing Assignment

Grading Policy

Learners must earn an overall passing grade. There are three module quizzes worth approximately 23% of your final grade, and a peer-reviewed final assignment worth 30% of your final grade.