Highlighting health consequences of racial disparities sparks support for action

<p>Racial disparities arise across many vital areas of American life, including employment, health, and interpersonal treatment. For example, 1 in 3 Black children live in poverty (vs. 1 in 9 White children) and on average, Black Americans live 4 fewer years than White Americans. Which disparity is more likely to spark reduction efforts? We find that highlighting disparities in health-related (vs. economic) outcomes spurs greater social media engagement and support for disparity-mitigating policy. Further, reading about racial health disparities elicits greater support for action (e.g., protesting) than economic or belonging-based disparities. This occurs, in part, because people view health disparities as violating morally-sacred values which enhances perceived injustice. This work elucidates which manifestations of racial inequality are most likely to prompt Americans to action.</p>