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The Cost of Looking Different: Racism, Mental Health and Human Development of Migrants of African Descent

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Racism and Human Development

Abstract

Human migration is an age-long practice with people of African descent. Africans migrate within and across their borders; as a result, there is a large presence of Africans in Germany and other European countries. Being Black in a European country sets the stage for the experience of a wide range of discriminatory practices including racism. This paper therefore focused on skin colour as the foremost instigator of racism against Africans by drawing on theoretical and empirical literature and findings from previous studies conducted with Africans in Germany. The implications of racism for individuals in terms of mental health and healthy development were largely interrogated. The authors emphasise the direct relationship between racism, mental health and human development of persons who are exposed to discriminatory practices. The paper in conclusion offers some suggestions that can help ameliorate the unfortunate situation of discriminative practices and racism.

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Idemudia, E., Olonisakin, T.T. (2022). The Cost of Looking Different: Racism, Mental Health and Human Development of Migrants of African Descent. In: Dutra-Thomé, L., Rabelo, D.F., Ramos, D., Góes, E.F. (eds) Racism and Human Development. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-83545-3_9

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