Theories & Concepts

Many theoretical frameworks on racial phenomena exist, this partial list highlights anti-racism theories that may be useful for health equity research.

Racial health equity theories and theoretical frameworks

Bonilla-Silva E. Rethinking racism: Toward a structural interpretation. American Sociological Review. 1996;62:465-480.

Clark R, Anderson NB, Clark VR, Williams DR. Racism as a stressor for African Americans: A biopsychosocial model. American Psychologist. 1999;October 1999:805-816.

Gee GC, Payne-Sturges DC. Environmental health disparities: a framework integrating psychosocial and environmental concepts.Environ Health Perspect. 2004;112(17):1645-1653.

Graham L, Brown-Jeffy S, Aronson R, Stephens C. Critical race theory as theoretical framework and analysis tool for population health research. Critical Public Health. 2011;21(1):81-93.

Krieger N. Got theory? – on the 21st c CE rise of explicit use of epidemiologic theories of disease distribution: a review and ecosocial analysis. Current Epidemiol Reports 2014; 1(1):45-56

Viruell-Fuentes EA, Miranda PY, Abdulrahim S. More than culture: Structural racism, intersectionality theory, and immigrant health. Soc Sci Med. 2012.

Williams DR, Collins C. Racial residential segregation: a fundamental cause of racial disparities in health. Public Health Rep. 2001;116(5):404-416.

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Critical Race Theory

Critical Race Theory (CRT) is a theoretical framework and iterative methodology with origins in legal studies. CRT was developed as a response to the lack of analysis of racism within critical legal studies. CRT recognizes that racism is engrained in the fabric and system of the American society. This is the lens through which CRT scholars examine social structures to understand and transform the relationship between race, racism, and power. CRT identifies that these structures are based on white privilege and white supremacy, which perpetuates the marginalization of people of color.

Overview of Critical Race Theory

Conversations with Father of CRT, Derrick Bell