Separate and Not Equal: The Impact of Modern Day Segregation on Health Inequities

Historically segregation has affected Chicago and the health of its residents, which is duly noted in “Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community,” the last book by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Through this text, we identified a historical link between segregation in the 60’s and modern day health inequities, including differences in education level, employment, and health status. With emphasis on inequities in the distribution of income, these inequities - substandard housing, low quality education, and a lack of sustainable jobs - has a profound effect on individual health status. Segregation as a determinant of health has been widely debated in the field of public health (Kramer & Hogue, 2009; Williams & Collins, 2001). Literature suggests segregation effects individual’s educational attainment and employment opportunities, which then impacts socioeconomic status- a more widely accepted determinant of health. 

Relying on retrospective Census data of two Chicago communities- one historical predominantly Black, the other historically and predominantly White- this student panel discussion will use current research to analyze the potential effects on socioeconomic status as a result of segregation and asses possible upstream interventions. Various perspectives will be used to advocate for the development of policies that reduce health inequities and improve the health of low-income Chicago residents. During this interactive session, we will invite participants to help focus our recommendations to mitigate the effects of historically-rooted segregation by addressing access to and distribution of resources within Chicago communities.