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Systems and Structures of Racism and Oppression, Health and Potential...
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Systems and Structures of Racism and Oppression, Health and Potential Solutions

A Special Issue of Societies (ISSN 2075-4698).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (17 May 2026) | Viewed by 9916

Editors

Dr. Lori S. Hoggard
*
E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Psychology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
Interests: racism; racial discrimination; racial identity; cardiovascular risk and autonomic functioning; mental health; coping
* Leading GE
Dr. LaBarron Hill

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Health & Human Sciences, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Greensboro, NC, USA
Interests: racism; psychology; public health
Dr. Tamara Taggart

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Rutgers School of Public Health, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
Interests: behavioral health disparities; HIV/AIDS prevention program evaluation; social determinants of health; substance abuse prevention and cessation; racial/ethnic minority

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Racial/ethnic inequities in health have been documented across the globe. Such health inequities are rooted in historical oppression and structural racism. For instance, in the United States and its territories, Black/African American, Hispanic and Latine, Indigenous/American Indian/Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islanders face protracted inequities in terms of health (e.g., cardiovascular health, cancer). Making progress in the prevention and eradication of racial/ethnic inequities in health is paramount.

We are pleased to invite you to contribute to advancing our knowledge on the mechanisms through which historical oppression and structural racism contribute to diminished health and abridged lifespans among racial/ethnic minorities and/or evaluating interventions (e.g., provider-based, behavioral, community-engaged, population level) that target key mechanisms and promote the health of racial/ethnic minorities.

This Special Issue aims to publish original research (e.g., global health, culturally appropriate interventions, mixed methods, epidemiological research), meta-analyses, and theoretical reviews. Topics may include, but are not limited to, inequities in access to healthcare and healthcare quality (e.g., maternal and reproductive health disparities); racism and bias in artificial intelligence and its algorithms (e.g., facial recognition software); inequitable policies and practices (e.g., migration policies); social, behavioral, and population-level interventions; and advocacy solutions.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

We encourage individuals to submit an abstract (of no more than 500 words) for review by 1 July. Scholars can then click on the existing 'Submit an Abstract' button. We are hoping to receive detailed abstracts.

Dr. Lori S. Hoggard
Dr. LaBarron Hill
Dr. Tamara Taggart
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as conceptual papers are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a double-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Societies is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • racism
  • oppression
  • racial/ethnic minorities
  • health inequities
  • physical health
  • mental health
  • mechanisms
  • interventions
  • advocacy

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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21 pages, 279 KB  
Article
Beyond Documentation: Racialized Legal Status as a Political Determinant of Health Among Latines with HIV in the United States
by Tahilin Sanchez Karver, Maria Camila Restrepo, Diana R. Hernandez Payano, Bernardita Hetreau Letelier, Angela Suarez, Walter Saba and Kathleen R. Page
Societies 2026, 16(8), 255; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc16080255 - 12 Aug 2026
Viewed by 365
Abstract
Objective: Latines in the United States (US) experience disproportionate HIV-related inequities, exacerbated by immigration-related legal precarity and exclusionary policies. This study explores how racialized legal status (RLS), a mechanism by which race-neutral legal classifications disproportionately burden minorities, impacts the lived experiences of Latines [...] Read more.
Objective: Latines in the United States (US) experience disproportionate HIV-related inequities, exacerbated by immigration-related legal precarity and exclusionary policies. This study explores how racialized legal status (RLS), a mechanism by which race-neutral legal classifications disproportionately burden minorities, impacts the lived experiences of Latines with HIV (LWH) across the HIV care continuum. Methods: We conducted a secondary qualitative analysis of in-depth interviews with 21 LWH, 15 healthcare providers, and 10 key informants in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Drawing on RLS framework, data was analyzed thematically, focusing on emergent themes related to immigration, politics, and legal status and their impact on LWH. Results: Policies linking access to health and social services to legal status intensified economic instability and social exclusion, thus leading to suboptimal disease management. Fear of deportation, institutional mistrust, discrimination, and intersectional stigma contribute to healthcare avoidance, disrupting continuity and engagement across the HIV care continuum. Institutions providing services to LWH struggle to circumvent barriers caused by RLS, straining local and community-based resources. Conclusions: RLS erodes whole-person care by creating barriers for healthcare and social services access. Addressing inequities among Latines requires multilevel responses that reduce exclusionary policies and support the well-being of individuals at the intersection of immigration status and chronic disease management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Systems and Structures of Racism and Oppression, Health and Potential Solutions)
19 pages, 2735 KB  
Article
‘COVID Can’t Be COVID Without George Floyd’: A Photovoice Exploration of Black Women’s Mental Health During the Dual Pandemics
by Hanna C. Dingel, Chandra Jennings, Kacia Vines, Mysha Wynn, Tab Battle, Wanda Cox-Bailey, Wanda Fearrington, Latasha Little, Gwendolyn Parmley-McCloud, Jalynn Woods, Margaret E. Petersen, Alexandra F. Lightfoot and Anissa I. Vines
Societies 2026, 16(8), 251; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc16080251 - 6 Aug 2026
Viewed by 378
Abstract
Black women faced disproportionate social, emotional, and structural burdens during the dual pandemics of COVID-19 and racial injustice, yet their mental health experiences remain underexamined. This study explores how Black women understood, navigated, and coped with these intersecting crises. Seven Black women in [...] Read more.
Black women faced disproportionate social, emotional, and structural burdens during the dual pandemics of COVID-19 and racial injustice, yet their mental health experiences remain underexamined. This study explores how Black women understood, navigated, and coped with these intersecting crises. Seven Black women in North Carolina participated in a seven-session virtual photovoice study, including four photo discussion sessions. Participants generated four photo assignments, took photos, and discussed them using the SHOWeD framework. Recorded discussions were analyzed using Reflexive Thematic Analysis and Sort and Sift, Think and Shift, with participants supporting theme development. Narratives revealed multi-level mental health impacts: at the individual level, caregiving overload, compounded grief, and constant vigilance; at the interpersonal level, invisibility, racial misreading, and everyday racism that intensified distress and made help-seeking itself a labor of confronting providers’ biases; at the community level, trauma from witnessing racial violence and pandemic loss; and structural factors such as inequity, food insecurity, and policing as primary drivers of mental health strain. Participants employed healing as resistance through faith, nature, sister circles, and culturally concordant care. Black women’s mental health during the dual pandemics is inseparable from structural racism and gendered labor; healing is individual and collective, and crisis preparedness requires system-level change driven by Black communities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Systems and Structures of Racism and Oppression, Health and Potential Solutions)
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Review

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16 pages, 429 KB  
Review
Systems-Level Interventions to Disrupt Structural Racism and Improve Black Adolescent Health Outcomes: A Scoping Review
by Tamara Taggart, Simone Sawyer, Connor Mitchell, Marcy S. Ekanayake-Weber, Robert W. Faris, Nisha O’Shea, Luz E. Robinson, Belinda Woodard, Wan-Chen Lin, Yinuo Xu, Yutong Gao, Kate Nyhan and Dorothy L. Espelage
Societies 2026, 16(4), 112; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc16040112 - 27 Mar 2026
Viewed by 2155
Abstract
Structural racism and discrimination (SRD) is a fundamental cause of health inequities that emerge during adolescence and persist throughout adulthood. This scoping review systematically synthesizes the evidence on policy and community-level interventions designed to disrupt SRD exposure among Black adolescents and mitigate its [...] Read more.
Structural racism and discrimination (SRD) is a fundamental cause of health inequities that emerge during adolescence and persist throughout adulthood. This scoping review systematically synthesizes the evidence on policy and community-level interventions designed to disrupt SRD exposure among Black adolescents and mitigate its impact on their health behaviors and outcomes. Following PRISMA-ScR guidelines, we searched five databases for peer-reviewed intervention studies published through October 2025. Of 3417 abstracts screened, 9 studies met inclusion criteria. We examined the study characteristics, theoretical frameworks, implementation strategies, and effectiveness of interventions targeting three primary mechanisms of SRD exposure for adolescents. The majority focused on neighborhood and social integration interventions, with limited representation of resource-based and school-based approaches. Culturally grounded, community-engaged interventions buffered SRD’s negative effects on mental health, empowered youth as change agents, and removed structural barriers to health-promotive resources. The review identified several gaps in the research, including methodological and theoretical rigor, geographic contexts, and follow-up. Findings underscore the potential of culturally grounded, multilevel interventions to reduce inequities across mental health, physical health, and social outcomes for Black youth. This review highlights the need to expand systems-level interventions that address the root causes of the persistent racial health inequities experienced by Black youth. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Systems and Structures of Racism and Oppression, Health and Potential Solutions)
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15 pages, 256 KB  
Review
Latina Health Disparities: Cosas Que Nadie Te Dijo
by Ashley S. Membreno Lopez, Camrynn Cutchin, Bayan Haseem, Danielle May, Cara Green, Jonathan Livingston and Christopher L. Edwards
Societies 2026, 16(3), 81; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc16030081 - 26 Feb 2026
Viewed by 1950
Abstract
Despite the growing recognition of social factors that underlie health disparities in historically disenfranchised populations, the health and well-being of Latinas remain underexplored in the extant literature. There are several key challenges for this population, including access to healthcare, mental health disparities, and [...] Read more.
Despite the growing recognition of social factors that underlie health disparities in historically disenfranchised populations, the health and well-being of Latinas remain underexplored in the extant literature. There are several key challenges for this population, including access to healthcare, mental health disparities, and cultural practices that contribute to Latina health outcomes. By identifying both barriers and protective factors, we will posit solutions based on an ecologically valid understanding of the nuances of Latina health. We will advocate for interventions, based on research, which can reduce disparities and promote health equity for this underserved population. This paper aims to bridge this gap by examining the existing literature concerning health disparities in Latinas to uncover the unique factors that influence health outcomes of this population with a focus on social, cultural, economic, and environmental determinants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Systems and Structures of Racism and Oppression, Health and Potential Solutions)
8 pages, 174 KB  
Review
Exploration of Maternal Health Access and Quality of Care Among African American and Latinx Women in the South
by Jasmine Benner, Ashley S. Membreno Lopez, Dominique Hector, Nsimba Mahungu, Seronda A. Robinson, Jonathan Livingston and Christopher L. Edwards
Societies 2026, 16(2), 64; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc16020064 - 14 Feb 2026
Viewed by 1826
Abstract
Maternal and child health (MCH) disparities remain a critical public health concern in the United States, with the Southern region experiencing some of the nation’s highest maternal mortality rates. Black and Latinx women are disproportionately affected, reflecting persistent structural and systemic inequities. This [...] Read more.
Maternal and child health (MCH) disparities remain a critical public health concern in the United States, with the Southern region experiencing some of the nation’s highest maternal mortality rates. Black and Latinx women are disproportionately affected, reflecting persistent structural and systemic inequities. This review examines maternal health disparities among Black and Latinx women in the Southern United States and identifies structural, social, and policy-related contributors to these inequities. A narrative review approach was used to synthesize epidemiological data, policy reports, and peer-reviewed literature published between 2000 and 2025, drawing on national surveillance systems such as CDC WONDER and the National Center for Health Statistics, as well as state-level reports and policy analyses relevant to maternal health in Southern states. Across the region, maternal mortality rates frequently exceeded the national average of 23.2 deaths per 100,000 live births, with several states reporting rates above 38 deaths per 100,000. Structural contributors included limited access to maternity care, rural hospital closures, Medicaid non-expansion, chronic disease burden, and experiences of discrimination within healthcare systems, while social determinants such as poverty, housing instability, language barriers, and immigration-related fears further compounded risks for Black and Latinx women. In the post-Roe context, restrictive reproductive health policies intensified existing inequities. Overall, maternal health disparities among Black and Latinx women in the Southern United States are driven by interconnected structural, social, and policy factors, underscoring the need for coordinated policy reforms, expansion of culturally responsive care models, and targeted investment in Southern communities disproportionately affected by maternal mortality. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Systems and Structures of Racism and Oppression, Health and Potential Solutions)

Other

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14 pages, 8425 KB  
Concept Paper
Climate Havens or Climate Illusions? Structural Racism and Extreme Heat Vulnerability in Buffalo, New York
by Monica Lynn Miles, Eh Shee Wah and Rafey Shahid
Societies 2026, 16(8), 243; https://doi.org/10.3390/soc16080243 - 30 Jul 2026
Viewed by 1202
Abstract
Environmental injustices in the United States are rooted in structural racism, particularly policies of racial segregation and disinvestment such as redlining that have produced enduring inequalities in the built environment and population health. This concept paper examines extreme heat as a racialized environmental [...] Read more.
Environmental injustices in the United States are rooted in structural racism, particularly policies of racial segregation and disinvestment such as redlining that have produced enduring inequalities in the built environment and population health. This concept paper examines extreme heat as a racialized environmental exposure in Buffalo, New York—a post-industrial Great Lakes city increasingly framed as a “climate haven”. While such designations suggest relative protection from climate risk, they obscure the socio-spatial inequalities that shape uneven vulnerability on the ground. Drawing on a structural racism framework and insights from urban political economy, this study argues that extreme heat vulnerability in Buffalo is not incidental but produced through historically embedded patterns of disinvestment in housing, infrastructure, and environmental resources. Neighborhoods such as the East Side, Black Rock, and the West Side exhibit heightened exposure due to concentrations of thermally inefficient housing, limited tree canopy and green space, and unequal access to cooling resources. These conditions reflect the material legacy of segregation and uneven urban development, which continue to structure differential capacity to adapt to rising temperatures. Although extreme heat is widely recognized as a major public health threat, it remains underexamined in mid-sized northern and Rust Belt cities, where risk is often perceived as episodic rather than structurally produced. This paper addresses this gap by advancing a conceptual critique of the “climate haven” narrative, demonstrating that relative geographic advantage does not equate to equitable resilience. By theorizing extreme heat as a mechanism through which structural racism is reproduced, this study highlights the need for place-based, justice-oriented climate adaptation strategies that confront the historical and institutional drivers of vulnerability in Great Lakes cities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Systems and Structures of Racism and Oppression, Health and Potential Solutions)
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