High Mortality Rates

According to Abraham Maslow, the desire for self-fulfillment occurs when people have a hierarchical model of needs sustained (Maslow, 2000).  The picture below represents Maslow’s Self-Actualizing model.

Socioeconomic recognition and success allows all people to self-actualize happiness.  Racial inequality disrupts Maslow’s Self-Actualizing model by interfering with the usual processes of daily life. Furthermore, racial inequality affects the health circumstances of communities by reducing safety according to Maslow’s model (Hudson, Puterman, Bibbins-Domingo, Matthews, & Adler, 2013; Maslow, 2000).  Data shows a relationship between socioeconomic acceptance and depression.  The perception of racial inequality represents a silent killer for communities across the United States.  In addition, evidence shows that Whites suffer more than other races when accused of racial discrimination. 

Awareness to depression should take place at all levels to diminish the tendency to acquire health diseases at a younger age.  Blacks have more exposure to adversity issues than whites at a younger age thus can experience a higher probability of racial discrimination related illness.  Other factors affecting depression include low income, job loss, divorce, and death of a loved one.

Structural and interpersonal challenges occur with racial discrimination including less return on investments, and erosion of health.  Other studies have shown racial discrimination to Blacks when climbing the social economic ladder.  The possibility of high mortality rates due to discrimination occurs when racial tendencies are not controlled.

References

Hudson, D. L., Puterman, E., Bibbins-Domingo, K., Matthews, K. A., & Adler, N. E. (2013, July 27). Race, cumulative socioeconomic position, racial discrimination, depressive symptoms and self-rated health. Social Science & Medicine, 1-31. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2013.07.031

Maslow, A. H. (2000). The Maslow business reader. Toronto, Canada: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.