Race and racism: conceptual, historical, and methodological aspects for anti-racist research in health

Abstract

The scientific literature has extensively documented racial inequalities in health. A deeper understanding of how race is related to sociohistorical processes, especially racism, is crucial to ground studies on these inequalities. This study aims to describe and discuss the key theoretical, historical, and methodological aspects related to the constructs of race and racism in research in health. It addresses fundamental concepts such as race; systemic, structural, institutional, interpersonal, and internalized racism; and relevant debates on topics such as the myth of racial democracy, colorism, whiteness, and scientific racism. Additionally, it explores the main methodological approaches to measure racism at different levels. This study aims to provide insights and promote research aimed at racial equity in health, contributing to an anti-racist research agenda.