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HEALTH
How Racist Myths Limit Access To Quality Care
An essay about the myth of biological differences
The mythology a society produces can reveal its values. Take, for instance, the ancient Tajik tale of a mystical Kaha bird who befriended a poor man by bringing him fish every evening. Tempted by the promise of treasure, the fisherman betrayed their secret arrangement by telling others in the village. Upon learning about his disloyalty, the bird flew away, never to be seen again. This narrative illustrates how greed taints the spirit of generosity. Yet, not all myths serve the noble purpose of imparting wisdom. In a society burdened by inequality, folklore can serve another purpose: to portray some groups as more or less deserving of care. That is certainly the case with Black people, whose experiences have been stained by a harmful mythology.
In 1735, Swedish nationalist Carl Linnaeus divided humans into distinct racial groups, describing their physical traits, behavior, manner of clothing, and preferred form of government. This was not a benign attempt to categorize people like a botanist would with plants. As his descriptions would reveal, this categorization sought to justify White people's position at the top of the social hierarchy, to explain why they were granted more freedom and access to opportunities. To convince…
