FILM

What's Race Got to Do With It?

A new PBS documentary series explores the complicated and controversial connection between social inequality and health.

By Raina Kelley | Newsweek Web Exclusive

Apr 11, 2008 | Updated: 5:02 p.m. ET Apr 11, 2008

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Discuss

Posted By: SPORTLOCK09 @ 05/12/2008 5:42:25 PM

Comment: I pay $690 a month for healthcare for my son and myself. I want free healthcare, housing, education too. Is it a race thing why I can't get these things for free also? So much for having ambition, the people across the street from me are living better then I am and have more kids, section 8 housing paying the rent and free medical. Not to mention nobody has a job there either. Do I feel sorry for them? Hell no, I'm jealous of them. The situation makes me bitter, and the crime makes me cling to my guns. Sh it Obama was right! Just not right on the reason's white men are bitter at the government.
Posted By: whaleback1 @ 04/23/2008 12:38:38 PM

Comment: Sorry for the repeated posting. I received an error message after each submission, saying something like "Your comments cannot be accepted at this point. Please wait for a while and resubmit again"
Posted By: whaleback1 @ 04/23/2008 4:46:48 AM

Comment: Thank you for your feedback. I can see your point. I admit I live a very comfortable life now. But when I was a child in Asia, we did not have running water in our house. We had a public platform with 6 faucets and 60 families share them. We had to stand in line to wash our vegetables. Often we went to the creek to wash vegetables, and people were dumping trash upstream.

Having multiple low paying jobs is not a solution. To get ahead, it requires smart planning, e.g., delay child birth, have fewer kids, get education, learn marketable skills, take care of one's health. My mother only went to school for a week. She could barely write her name. With 6 children, she also made hairnets at home to supplement income. She had no stove and had to make fire everyday. yet she cooked fresh vegetables for us everyday,

I do not know how many Americans living in the conditions you described. I have seen public housing. They have running water, refrigerator, flush toilet, hot shower. Much better than the rich people's houses in the place I came from. If you are referring to the living condition of poor foreigners who came her to seek a better life, I am sorry. They will have to endure the hardship for a while. When I came to the US I lived in a poor house where only the poor foreign students lived. Yet I did not ask the US government to help me, because I had chosen to come here myself.

Small kitchen space is no excuse for a poor diet. To save money, once I lived in a 250 sq ft apartment next to a university. The counter top next to the kitchen sink was only the size of a notebook. yet I cooked my healthy meal everyday.

I agree that people without a car can't go to stores. (I did not have a car for many years.) I also agree that inner cities have crummy supermarket. But most Americans do not buy fresh produce anyway. I have been watching people's shopping cart at the check out line for 30 years. I often see people paying over $100, yet their carts are only cans, bottles, and packages. The only vegetables they would buy is a bag of garden salad and two tomatoes. Even when broccoli is on sale for $1 a bunch , few would buy it. The produce prices are so high because low sale volume causes spoilage. In a poor military town nearby, fresh produce is much cheaper due to a large Asian population who like vegetables.

Americans do not like healthy food. School cafeterias have to serve pizzas instead of broccoli because students do not eat the latter and it just gets wasted. It is true that most poor people are unhealthy. But obesity, diabetis, heart problems, cancers, etc. are NOT limited to poor people.

To sum up, I came from EXTREME poverty, but I rose above my station, because I am from a culture which emphasizes self-empowerment. Had I been born to a poor family in the US, I am very sure that I'd be poor, obese and sick today.
Posted By: whaleback1 @ 04/23/2008 4:43:15 AM

Comment: Thank you for your feedback. I can see your point. I admit I live a very comfortable life now. But when I was a child in Asia, we did not have running water in our house. We had a public platform with 6 faucets and 60 families share them. We had to stand in line to wash our vegetables. Often we went to the creek to wash vegetables, and people were dumping trash upstream.

Having multiple low paying jobs is not a solution. To get ahead, it requires smart planning, e.g., delay child birth, have fewer kids, get education, learn marketable skills, take care of one's health. My mother only went to school for a week. She could barely write her name. With 6 children, she also made hairnets at home to supplement income. She had no stove and had to make fire everyday. yet she cooked fresh vegetables for us everyday,

I do not know how many Americans living in the conditions you described. I have seen public housing. They have running water, refrigerator, flush toilet, hot shower. Much better than the rich people's houses in the place I came from. If you are referring to the living condition of poor foreigners who came her to seek a better life, I am sorry. They will have to endure the hardship for a while. When I came to the US I lived in a poor house where only the poor foreign students lived. Yet I did not ask the US government to help me, because I had chosen to come here myself.

Small kitchen space is no excuse for a poor diet. To save money, once I lived in a 250 sq ft apartment next to a university. The counter top next to the kitchen sink was only the size of a notebook. yet I cooked my healthy meal everyday.

I agree that people without a car can't go to stores. (I did not have a car for many years.) I also agree that inner cities have crummy supermarket. But most Americans do not buy fresh produce anyway. I have been watching people's shopping cart at the check out line for 30 years. I often see people paying over $100, yet their carts are only cans, bottles, and packages. The only vegetables they would buy is a bag of garden salad and two tomatoes. Even when broccoli is on sale for $1 a bunch , few would buy it. The produce prices are so high because low sale volume causes spoilage. In a poor military town nearby, fresh produce is much cheaper due to a large Asian population who like vegetables.

Americans do not like healthy food. School cafeterias have to serve pizzas instead of broccoli because students do not eat the latter and it just gets wasted.

To sum up, I came from EXTREME poverty, but I rose above my station, because I am from a culture which emphasizes self-empowerment. Had I been born to a poor family in the US, I am very sure that I'd be poor, obese and sick today.
Posted By: whaleback1 @ 04/23/2008 4:37:46 AM

Comment: Thank you for your feedback. I can see your point. I admit I live a very comfortable life now. But when I was a child in Asia, we did not have running water in our house. We had a public platform with 6 faucets and 60 families share them. We had to stand in line to wash our vegetables. Often we went to the creek to wash vegetables, and people were dumping trash upstream.

Having multiple low paying jobs is not a solution. To get ahead, it requires smart planning, e.g., delay child birth, have fewer kids, get education, learn marketable skills, take care of one's health. My mother only went to school for a week. She could barely write her name. With 6 children, she also made hairnets at home to supplement income. She had no stove and had to make fire everyday. yet she cooked fresh vegetables for us everyday,

I do not know how many Americans living in the conditions you described. I have seen public housing. They have running water, refrigerator, flush toilet, hot shower. Much better than the rich people's houses in the place I came from. If you are referring to the living condition of poor foreigners who came her to seek a better life, I am sorry. They will have to endure the hardship for a while. When I came to the US I lived in a poor house where only the poor foreign students lived. Yet I did not ask the US government to help me, because I had chosen to come here myself.

Small kitchen space is no excuse for a poor diet. To save money, once I lived in a 250 sq ft apartment next to a university. The counter top next to the kitchen sink was only the size of a notebook. yet I cooked my healthy meal everyday.

I agree that people without a car can't go to stores. (I did not have a car for many years.) I also agree that inner cities have crummy supermarket. But most Americans do not buy fresh produce anyway. I have been watching people's shopping cart at the check out line for 30 years. I often see people paying over $100, yet their carts are only cans, bottles, and packages. The only vegetables they would buy is a bag of garden salad and two tomatoes. Even when broccoli is on sale for $1 a bunch , few would buy it. The produce prices are so high because low sale volume causes spoilage. In a poor military town nearby, fresh produce is much cheaper due to a large Asian population who like vegetables.

Americans do not like healthy food. School cafeterias have to serve pizzas instead of broccoli because students do not eat the latter and it just gets wasted.

To sum up, I came from EXTREME poverty, but I rose above my station, because I am from a culture which emphasizes self-empowerment. What caused the US poverty to perpetuate is some politicians. Instead of empowering the poor, they help them find excuses, so they will stay poor, and keep voting for them.
Posted By: whaleback1 @ 04/23/2008 4:32:02 AM

Comment: Thank you for your feedback. I can see your point. I admit I live a very comfortable life now. But when I was a child in Asia, we did not have running water in our house. We had a public platform with 6 faucets and 60 families share them. We had to stand in line to wash our vegetables. Often we went to the creek to wash vegetables, and people were dumping trash upstream.

Having multiple low paying jobs is not a solution. To get ahead, it requires smart planning, e.g., delay child birth, have fewer kids, get education, learn marketable skills, take care of one's health. My mother only went to school for a week. She could barely write her name. With 6 children, she also made hairnets at home to suppliment income. She had no stove and had to make fire everyday. yet she cooked fresh vegetables for us everyday,

I do not know how many Americans living in the conditions you described. I have seen public housing. They have running water, refrigerator, flush toilet, hot shower. Much better than the rich people's houses in the place I came from.

If you are referring to the living condition of poor foreigners who came her to seek a better life, I am sorry. They will have to endure the hardship for a while. They cannot expect to live like other Americans just because they managed to enter the US. When I came to the US I lived in a poor house with the sign, "International House". Only poor foreigner students would live there. I did not ask the US government to help me. I chose to come here to live, I should be on my own!!

Small kitchen space is no excuse for a poor diet. To save money, once I lived in a 250 sq ft apartment next to a university. The countertop next to the kitchen sink was only the size of a notebook. yet I cooked my healthy meal everyday.

I agree that people without a car can't go to stores. (I did not have a car for many years.) I also agree that inner cities have crummy supermarket. But most Americans do not buy fresh produce anyway. I have been watching people's shopping cart at the check out line for 30 years. I often see people paying over $100, yet their carts are only cans, bottles, and packages. The only vegetables they would buy is a bag of garden salad and two tomatoes. Even when broccoli is on sale for $1 a bunch , few would buy it. The produce prices are so high because low sale volume causes spoilage. In a poor military town nearby, fresh produce is much cheaper due to a large Asian population who like vegetables.

Americans do not like healthy food. School cafeterias have to serve pizzas instead of broccoli because students do not eat the latter and it just gets wasted.

To sum up, I came from EXTREME poverty, but I rose above my station, because I am from a culture which emphasizes self-emowerment. Instead of empowering the poor, the politicians on help them find excuses. This will only cause them to stay in poverty forever - thus form a permanent vote base for those politicians.
Posted By: whaleback1 @ 04/23/2008 4:31:48 AM

Comment: Thank you for your feedback. I can see your point. I admit I live a very comfortable life now. But when I was a child in Asia, we did not have running water in our house. We had a public platform with 6 faucets and 60 families share them. We had to stand in line to wash our vegetables. Often we went to the creek to wash vegetables, and people were dumping trash upstream.

Having multiple low paying jobs is not a solution. To get ahead, it requires smart planning, e.g., delay child birth, have fewer kids, get education, learn marketable skills, take care of one's health. My mother only went to school for a week. She could barely write her name. With 6 children, she also made hairnets at home to suppliment income. She had no stove and had to make fire everyday. yet she cooked fresh vegetables for us everyday,

I do not know how many Americans living in the conditions you described. I have seen public housing. They have running water, refrigerator, flush toilet, hot shower. Much better than the rich people's houses in the place I came from.

If you are referring to the living condition of poor foreigners who came her to seek a better life, I am sorry. They will have to endure the hardship for a while. They cannot expect to live like other Americans just because they managed to enter the US. When I came to the US I lived in a poor house with the sign, "International House". Only poor foreigner students would live there. I did not ask the US government to help me. I chose to come here to live, I should be on my own!!

Small kitchen space is no excuse for a poor diet. To save money, once I lived in a 250 sq ft apartment next to a university. The countertop next to the kitchen sink was only the size of a notebook. yet I cooked my healthy meal everyday.

I agree that people without a car can't go to stores. (I did not have a car for many years.) I also agree that inner cities have crummy supermarket. But most Americans do not buy fresh produce anyway. I have been watching people's shopping cart at the check out line for 30 years. I often see people paying over $100, yet their carts are only cans, bottles, and packages. The only vegetables they would buy is a bag of garden salad and two tomatoes. Even when broccoli is on sale for $1 a bunch , few would buy it. The produce prices are so high because low sale volume causes spoilage. In a poor military town nearby, fresh produce is much cheaper due to a large Asian population who like vegetables.

Americans do not like healthy food. School cafeterias have to serve pizzas instead of broccoli because students do not eat the latter and it just gets wasted.

To sum up, I came from EXTREME poverty, but I rose above my station, because I am from a culture which emphasizes self-emowerment. Instead of empowering the poor, the politicians on help them find excuses. This will only cause them to stay in poverty forever - thus form a permanent vote base for those politicians.
Posted By: whaleback1 @ 04/12/2008 1:48:02 AM

Comment: I think the series is totally biased. I'm from Asia. Our culture believes that poor people are healthier than the rich, althought they have less access to health care. The reason is that poor people eat brown rice, lots of vegetables, little meat, and work hard in the farm. By comparison, rich people eat white rice, lots of meats, and sit idle.

I am from a poor family. But since I was little, my parents taught me to work hard, to 'eat bitter'. I have been working out four hours a week for 33 years. I eat tons of vegetables. I cook my own meal, and NEVER use any prepared food besides some bakes chicken from the deli. I don't drink cokes. I don't even drink juices. I eat fresh fruits instead. As a result, I am extremely healthy.

While money can buy good health care, those who don't have money can avoid the need of health care if they know how to live a healthful life. (I have a good job which provides health insurance. But I almost never saw a doctor besides the annual physicals. ) It is true that grocery stores don't give healthy food away, and health clubs don't give free passes. So it's hard to be healthy if one is too poor. Yet, it actually costs less to eat healthy (my grocery bills are often 1/3 of others' because I only buy fresh produce). With some creativity, one can also find ways to exercise. I know a lady who lost 10 lb by using a $20 stair master which is no bigger than a chair at home.

I read an article quoting a poor person, " We have mounting medical bills because we can't afford to eat well. We only buy eggs, canned soup, potatoes, cheap ham and cheeses.. " I believe cabbage and broccoli don't cost much more than canned soup and potatoes. Besides. Why do they by ham and cheese? They are salty, fatty, and expensive. Why not use skim milk and chicken instead? A rottisseri chicken at Walmart only costs $4.50. I can get two meals out of it to feed a family of four - and I throw away the bones, skin and fat. (I personally think the breast meat is tasteless. But when I cut it up and cook with carrots, cabbage, daikon, broccoli, peas and oriental clear noodle, it becomes a very tasty dish.)

To be healthy requires discipline and making smart choices. And these are the same elements that brings a person wealth. I am not surprised at all that poor people tend to be less healthy. I know I sound heartless to say such things. But the fact is many Americans - across social-economics classes -have poor health because they don't have the intelligence to understand the relation between health and self responsibility. Politicians and business do not want people to be empowered and smart. Politicians want people to depend on them, and vote for them. Business want people to be dumb and gullable enought to buy their product.
- Posted By: popslashgirl @ 04/14/2008 11:43:27
  
  Comment: see http://www.newsweek.com/id/76929 for a more complete explaination of that second point
- Posted By: popslashgirl @ 04/14/2008 11:37:23
  
  Comment: Your post is thoughtful and well-argued. I would like to offer a response to some of the issues you raise.
  
  First, while practically everyone understands the value of eating a healthy diet, in practice it can be very difficult. Cooking from scratch requires facilities (stove, fridge, running water, electricity) and resources (time, money) that many people living in poverty do not have. If you're working two jobs at minimum wage, you probably don't have the time to sit over a pot of soup.
  
  Also, in poor areas, such as inner cities or rural communities, grocery stores may not even exist. The only stores that sell food are convenience stores, which sell a small selection of mostly-processed food at high prices. If someone doesn't have a car, and if there's no public transportation, they may not be able to reliably access grocery stores that are too far away to walk to.
  
  Finally, healthy food does not keep well. When compared to the shelf life of canned goods and processed foods, which may run months or even years, fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy, and unfrozen meat has a shelf life of days or weeks. To a family struggling to make it at the poverty level, this simple fact may be enough to compell them to purchase cheaper, more durable foods.
  
  There are no easy answers to this problem. And it is appalling that in America in the 21st century, people are hungry. But unfortunately, "they need discipline" is not the only answer to the problem of healthy eating. Every American needs access to cheap, fresh produce and other healthy foods, and needs the facilities to be able to take advantage of it. When we as a country commit to better, healthier eating, it will happen. Look at diseases that used to be epidemic not so long ago, like measles--mandatory vaccinations have made us all safer and healthier. I believe that we can make a similar sea change with nutrition, and eliminate heart disease, cancer, and obesity from the American landscape.
Posted By: thegoldenstars @ 04/12/2008 12:49:01 AM

Comment: PROMISOUS, DID YOU GET RAPED BY CHINESE GANGSTERS AND NOW YOU'RE VERY UPSET?