Joseph Graves, PhD, on the Myth of Race and Genetics

Why It Matters

Correcting the myth of race-as-genetics reframes medical research and public health policy to focus on social determinants of health, reducing misdiagnosis and biased treatment. It undermines a historical rationale for racism and guides more equitable healthcare interventions.

Summary

Joseph Graves argues that the long-standing belief in inherent genetic differences between racial groups is scientifically unfounded and was historically constructed to justify slavery and inequality. Nineteenth-century pseudoscience, including the 'Negro extinction' hypothesis, portrayed Black people as biologically inferior, and 20th-century medicine continued to racialize conditions like hypertension and sickle cell anemia. Graves shows that genetic variation between Africans and Europeans is minimal and cannot account for observed disparities in health and mortality. He attributes those disparities to social and environmental factors rather than innate biological differences.

Original Description

Did you know 19th-century medicine wrongly claimed Black people were genetically destined for poorer health outcomes? In episode 6 of Intention to Treat, Joseph Graves, PhD, digs into the history of race in medicine. Listen to Intention to Treat wherever you get your podcasts.