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submitted 2 weeks ago by flango@lemmy.eco.br to c/news@lemmy.world

Kennedy’s hearing signifies how close a man with medically racist beliefs is to becoming the US’s leading health official

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[-] ChonkyOwlbear@lemmy.world 168 points 2 weeks ago

This is what is known as scientific racism. The US has always been the world's #1 producer or it

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_racism

[-] YaDownWitCPP@lemmy.world 15 points 2 weeks ago

Sickle Cell Anemia: This is more common in individuals of African, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and Indian descent. The condition is caused by an inherited defect in hemoglobin, which affects red blood cells and can cause pain and other serious complications.

Cystic Fibrosis: This genetic disorder is more common in people of European descent, especially those with Northern or Central European ancestry. It affects the lungs, digestive system, and other organs.

Hypertension (High Blood Pressure): Hypertension is more prevalent in Black Americans than in other racial groups. The reasons for this are multifactorial, including genetics, socioeconomic status, and environmental factors. African Americans are also at higher risk for complications from hypertension, such as stroke and kidney disease.

Type 2 Diabetes: This is more common in Native American, Hispanic, and African American populations. Genetic factors play a role, along with lifestyle factors such as diet and physical activity levels.

Lactose Intolerance: People of East Asian, West African, Native American, and Mediterranean descent are more likely to be lactose intolerant, meaning they have difficulty digesting lactose, a sugar found in dairy products. This is due to lower levels of lactase, the enzyme that breaks down lactose.

Breast Cancer: While breast cancer affects women of all races, African American women are more likely to develop certain aggressive forms of breast cancer, such as triple-negative breast cancer, which tends to have a poorer prognosis. On the other hand, white women are more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer at an earlier age.

Prostate Cancer: Prostate cancer is more common in Black men, who are also more likely to be diagnosed at a younger age and experience more aggressive forms of the disease.

Asthma: Asthma is more prevalent among Black and Hispanic children in the United States. Environmental factors, such as exposure to air pollution, and socioeconomic factors, like access to healthcare, contribute to these disparities.

Skin Cancer (Melanoma): While melanoma is more common in people with lighter skin, such as those of European descent, it tends to be diagnosed at a later stage in people with darker skin, such as Black and Hispanic individuals, due to lower awareness and delayed diagnosis.

Thalassemia: A blood disorder more common in individuals of Mediterranean, African, or Southeast Asian descent. It involves the body making an abnormal form of hemoglobin, leading to anemia.

Tay-Sachs Disease: This genetic disorder, which leads to the progressive destruction of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, is more common in Ashkenazi Jewish individuals but also affects people of French-Canadian, Cajun, or certain Eastern European origins.

[-] IamSparticles@lemmy.zip 111 points 2 weeks ago

That's a nice list of red herrings. Those are all facts supported by evidence gathered through research. The point of the article is that RFK Jr has made, and continues to make, claims of fact that have no evidentiary basis, and in many cases directly contradict the available evidence.

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[-] SnotFlickerman 32 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

From Wikipedia:

Before the mid-20th century, scientific racism was accepted throughout the scientific community, but it is no longer considered scientific. The division of humankind into biologically separate groups, along with the assignment of particular physical and mental characteristics to these groups through constructing and applying corresponding explanatory models, is referred to as racialism, racial realism, race realism, or race science by those who support these ideas. Modern scientific consensus rejects this view as being irreconcilable with modern genetic research.

Scientific racism misapplies, misconstrues, or distorts anthropology (notably physical anthropology), craniometry, evolutionary biology, and other disciplines or pseudo-disciplines through proposing anthropological typologies to classify human populations into physically discrete human races, some of which might be asserted to be superior or inferior to others.

From the article:

African Americans have a long history of mistrust in the medical system, rooted in legacies of abuse and mistreatment, including unethical experiments on Black people. Examples include the Tuskegee syphilis study, the gynecology malpractice of J Marion Sims on enslaved Black women and the exploitation of Henrietta Lacks for cancer treatment, all which violated the principles of research ethics. The basis of these events stemmed from exploitation upheld by the idea that race is biological. In 2003, the Human Genome Project found that there is no genetic basis for race and that the term “race” is not biologically meaningful, meaning statements like Kennedy’s are not only outdated, but also false.

Throughout history, two enduring physiological myths – that Black people have a higher pain tolerance and weak lungs that could be strengthened through hard labor – have circulated within the medical community and continue to influence modern medical education and practice. Research has shown that many American physicians, medical students and residents hold incorrect beliefs about biological differences between races, which contribute to racial bias and disparities in pain perception and treatment recommendations. A 2016 survey revealed that of 222 white American medical students and residents, nearly 60% thought Black people’s skin is thicker than white peoples, and 12% thought Black people’s nerve endings were less sensitive than those of white people. Neither is true.

“Spreading false rhetoric that Black people have stronger immune systems recalls this notion of a super-humanization bias, which claims that Black people’s bodies function and endure pain differently,” said Zoé Samudzi, a visiting assistant professor at Clark University. Samudzi, who holds a PhD in medical sociology, fears the rise in misinformation will roll back recent progress across health fields. “Race-based medicine should not be the means of addressing the disparities in health outcomes that fall on the lines of race,” she said.

Not at all what the article or Wikipedia is referring to, but you do you.

[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 18 points 2 weeks ago

So nothing regarding RFK's ideas about black people and immune response or pain sensitivity?

[-] YaDownWitCPP@lemmy.world 4 points 2 weeks ago

You are correct.

[-] lolola 13 points 2 weeks ago

And what, pray tell, is the use case for this information

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[-] ChonkyOwlbear@lemmy.world 7 points 2 weeks ago

First of all, you are confusing ethnicity and race. Second, most of your examples are entirely caused by social factors.

[-] Majorllama@lemmy.world 6 points 2 weeks ago

How dare you come in here with your facts. These people need to be angry about scientific racism!

Next you're gonna tell me that because I have blue eyes that I am much more sensitive to bright lights than someone with darker colored eyes. You're just eye racist!

[-] Hobbes_Dent@lemmy.world 19 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Where are the facts about Caucasian propensities for disease and genetic issues in the list? Partial points for the light skin point.

Incomplete facts. Science huh.

Anything to justify it.

[-] AmidFuror@fedia.io 5 points 2 weeks ago

Cystic Fibrosis was listed.

There are genetic diseases more common in each (previously isolated) population. It's a fact which can be used to target screenings in a way that minimizes residual risks.

Many things in the list are different for socioeconomic reasons as well as genetic reasons. That doesn't mean the genetic differences don't exist or that scientific racism is behind them.

Racism is when you treat individuals not according to their own characteristics, but the characteristics (correctly assessed or not) attributed to their race. But public health efforts are not about individuals and often need to use racial background to help provide the care most likely to succeed.

Personal genomics will help us move to more individualized medicine, but it's not ready or affordable enough to apply to every case at the moment.

[-] SnotFlickerman 28 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

And if you think the gaggle of idiots running the country right now (up to and including RFK Jr.) has any intent to make personal genomics affordable to anyone but themselves, I've got a fucking bridge to sell you.

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[-] faythofdragons@slrpnk.net 5 points 2 weeks ago

Nah, the problem is extrapolating that into "dark eyes don't need sunglasses".

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[-] Ghosthacked@lemm.ee 5 points 2 weeks ago

This is pretty disingenuous, the vast majority of sickle cell cases are non-hispanic blacks. Hispanics and whites also get sickle cell. If you're grouping all those ethnicities in there, you might as well include whites too.

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[-] Gork@lemm.ee 87 points 2 weeks ago

Is it really too much to ask for Secretaries to at least have some experience or education in the industries they are the head of?

[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 54 points 2 weeks ago

It's apparently too much to ask for Secretaries to not be super fucking racist.

[-] Corkyskog@sh.itjust.works 29 points 2 weeks ago
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[-] expatriado@lemmy.world 32 points 2 weeks ago

shhh, DEI is the real source of unqualified positions

[-] b161 21 points 2 weeks ago

It’s all in Project 2025. They’re purging everyone. Qualifications don’t matter, as long as you’re a Trump bootlicker.

[-] grue@lemmy.world 11 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Monkey's paw curls

Okay, now you've got a fracking company CEO as Secretary of Energy.

spoiler


(Never mind that "DoE" is historically really more of a euphemism for the "nuclear department" and thus a fossil fuels dude isn't actually as "qualified" as he might seem at first glance anyway.)

[-] CharlesDarwin@lemmy.world 6 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

It's much more important that they are loyal to the orange dickhead and his agenda of destroying America.

[-] RamenJunkie@midwest.social 4 points 2 weeks ago

Nah, educated people don't agree with conspiracy theory nonsense enough to be useful tools.

[-] 2ugly2live@lemmy.world 74 points 2 weeks ago

During Robert F Kennedy Jr’s Senate confirmation hearing on 30 January, Angela Alsobrooks, a Democratic senator from Maryland, pressed the nominee on his past claims that Black people have a stronger immune system than white people and thereby, should receive vaccines on a different schedule than them. “What different vaccine schedule would you say I should have received?” Alsobrooks, who is Black, asked the health secretary nominee. Kennedy then referenced a “series of studies” showing that “to particular antigens, Blacks have a much stronger reaction”.

I randomly rewatched The Help and one of the racist white ladies was talking about how black people have different germs. "How ridiculous," I thought. And yet here we are.

Again.

[-] Cosmonauticus@lemmy.world 46 points 2 weeks ago

They were still telling students in med school as recent as the past 4 years that black ppl need less painkillers because we, "Tolerate pain better than other races."

Ppl surprised by this rhetoric haven't been paying attention

[-] prole 7 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Pretty fucked up if they were teaching that despite a lack of evidence.

That said, the concept itself isn't completely far fetched... Red heads need more anesthesia than everyone else for some genetic reason. Another group needing less for genetic reasons seems plausible.

[-] alberttcone@sh.itjust.works 7 points 2 weeks ago

Redheads need a lower opioid dose than the general population to achieve the same effect. At least those who are redheads because of a mutation in their MCR1 gene, which is about 75%, IIRC. Interestingly, the same mutation group also have worse tolerance of cold, which seems odd given that scotland is the global redhead centre!

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[-] falynns@lemmy.world 53 points 2 weeks ago

Someone just say the racist old man is a racist old man with racist views. But then they would be the target of attacks for "not being civil" to the racist. This country sucks.

[-] eagleeyedtiger@lemmy.nz 22 points 2 weeks ago

Everyone needs to remember the Paradox of tolerance. Allowing intolerance will only breed more intolerance. Everyone should speak out and shine a light on it when they can.

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[-] Phoenicianpirate@lemm.ee 5 points 2 weeks ago

Also don't forget Rush Limbaugh. He was a big advocate of 'civility' and 'politeness' but he absolutely did not consider racism, racist jokes, or telling someone they can't do something because of their race, to be uncivil or rude.

[-] some_guy@lemmy.sdf.org 33 points 2 weeks ago

I mean, he already said covid was engineered not to be as bad for Jewish people. We knew who he was.

[-] njm1314@lemmy.world 33 points 2 weeks ago

It's just super old school racism is what it is. I'm talking like 17th century racism.

[-] StopTouchingYourPhone@lemmy.world 19 points 2 weeks ago

Creating Caucasians/Aryans remains the stupidest science. Bunch of hateful twits obsessed with bullshit like where Noah's Arc was and measuring their own heads. Filthy rotten fuckers, every one of them. Paved the way for shit like

A 2016 survey revealed that of 222 white American medical students and residents, nearly 60% thought Black people’s skin is thicker than white peoples, and 12% thought Black people’s nerve endings were less sensitive than those of white people.

jfc...

[-] andros_rex@lemmy.world 13 points 2 weeks ago

This is a huge problem, the stats are way worse for nurses as I recall. Even some textbooks still claim that black people have higher pain tolerance and need less medication. Black people are denied opioids and treated as “drug seeking” far more than white patients. They can have problems accessing treatment for opioid use disorders too.

In 2021, maternal mortality rates for black women were about 2.6 that of non Hispanic white women. Its not hard to see why.

[-] HertzDentalBar 6 points 2 weeks ago

Some of the dumbest people I've ever met have been doctors and nurses, the more the specialize the worse shit to, they are so hyper focused on their jobs they just fall into the stupidest shit.

[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 5 points 2 weeks ago

As the old joke goes: what do you call the person who finishes last in their class at medical school? Doctor.

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[-] ricketyrackets@lemmy.ml 31 points 2 weeks ago

What I really think America needs is an unqualified heroin addict that is a self proclaimed arm chair scientist.

[-] Phoenicianpirate@lemm.ee 9 points 2 weeks ago

Well would you rather have a DEI hire black doctor who has a GPA slightly less than a non-DEI white doctor? /s

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[-] DarkFuture@lemmy.world 29 points 2 weeks ago

Elect Republicans, get racists.

Pretty simple.

[-] UncleGrandPa@lemmy.world 20 points 2 weeks ago

the insistence on there being differences between the racists is central to Fascism.

they NEED it to be true to bolster their ideas and goals.

[-] Jeffool@lemmy.world 6 points 2 weeks ago

I think you made a typo, and meant to say "races".

[-] chiliedogg@lemmy.world 4 points 2 weeks ago

They need the racists to be different too.

When they wipe out whoever the majority hates, diversity in racism means there will be new groups hated by the majority that can be wiped out. And then another group the majority hates.

Turn everyone against everyone else, and everyone becomes disposable.

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[-] zovits@lemmy.world 17 points 2 weeks ago

"Samudzi is concerned that a Kennedy appointment could result in policies that halt research and dismantle demonstrably proven health interventions."

I assumed it is already well-known that this is exactly the goal of his nomination.

[-] MithranArkanere@lemmy.world 13 points 2 weeks ago

The republican who was a doctor ultimately caved in.
Makes you wonder what sort of scheme or threat they may have used to force that decision.

[-] kepix@lemmy.world 13 points 2 weeks ago

how it started with the jews back in the day.

[-] IndustryStandard@lemmy.world 14 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Actually how it start with black people. Classical race science was invented to prove how black people had thicker skulls and felt less pain in order to excuse slavery.

Fun fact "The origin of species" is only half of the name of Darwins book. Don't ask about the other half.

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[-] iAvicenna@lemmy.world 8 points 2 weeks ago

RFK Jr is the embodiment of unscience. If there was ever a god of unscience RFK Jr would be its avatar.

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this post was submitted on 05 Feb 2025
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