Background and Objectives
Racism and religion are recognized as prevailing Social Determinants of Health (SDoH). To explore ways in which racism and religion looms in the daily lives of African Americans, we analyzed the experiences of African Americans born during the Jim Crow years and living in the Southern Appalachian Region of the U.S.
Research Design and Methods
Twenty-seven African Americans participated in this qualitative descriptive study that utilized criterion sampling, open-ended semi-structured interviews, and content analysis to identify a typology of categories related to experienced racism and ways in which religion was used in response to those experiences.
Results
Participants were an average age of 82.22 years (SD = 5.07); primarily women (n=19, 70.4%); married (n=11, 40.7%); junior high school (n=6, 22.2%), high school or GED (n=7, 25.9%), completed college or professional school (n=6, 22.2%); were retired (n=27, 100.0%); and affiliated with Baptist churches (n=18, 66.7%). Experiences with racism included inequities healthcare and education, and racially motivated physical violence. Religious practices/beliefs included foregiveness, humility, and humanity.
Discussion and Implications
Racism experienced by African American participants was likely countered by religious practices/beliefs inspired through intergenerational teachings with affiliations to the Black Church. These experiences of the oldest old African Americans living in communities of the Southern Appalachia U. S illustrates the pervasive nature of racism. The religious beliefs that are frequently transmitted intergenerationally through the Black Church are relevant to understand present day encounters with racism among African Americans and possibly other communities of color.