The race is a constructed social category, designed to stratify people and establish meaning in a social context. Racism encompasses a web of economic, political, social, and cultural structures, actions, and beliefs that systematize and ensure an unequal distribution of privilege, resources, and power in favor of the dominant racial group and at the expense of all others. As a form of bias against social groups, racism encompasses three related but separate aspects: prejudice (emotional bias), stereotypes (cognitive bias), and discrimination (behavioral bias). Harm refers to an emotional reaction to another individual or group based on preconceived ideas about them. Stereotyping is the projection of an individual's thoughts, beliefs, and expectations onto another individual without first obtaining factual knowledge about them. Discrimination is the act of refusing equal rights based on prejudice and stereotypes The nation's largest group of pediatricians warned that racism could have devastating long-term effects on children's health. The conventional and individualistic recipe for good health has long been to eat right, avoid bad habits, exercise regularly, sleep enough, and have regular doctor check-ups. Yet, despite this straightforward prescription, many people in the United States struggle to achieve and maintain good health. While personal behavior and choice are certainly core components of one's health, they cannot fully explain or account for all that it takes to become and remain healthy.
