Epigenetics and the Black Health Disparity

Ria Aman

Faculty: Lena Bertone

This presentation examines how perpetuated racial discrimination against Black people has contributed to the overall health disparity of the Black community in the context of chronic stress and epigenetics.

The primary goal is to understand how the race-based trauma experienced by an individual can negatively impact not only their health, but the health of their descendants for generations, regardless of whether or not their descendants face the same experiences.

This idea of neurobiological/biochemical alterations in Black Americans is explored as evidence and justification to the call for reparations.