Making black people sick:‘race’, ideology and health research

Abstract

Race' and health research is a major industry. However, its benefits to ethnic minorities in terms of understanding illness or improving health care are minimal (Bhopal 1992; Sheldon and Parker 1992). The literature is heavily skewed, reflecting the interests of health professionals and at odds with the priorities of minority ethnic communities (Webb 1982). It espouses a naive empiricism and cultural reductionism that would not be tolerated in other branches of medical or social research