Does Where We Sleep Matter?

Abstract

Abstract This chapter discusses the social, cultural, and political factors that influence Black people’s higher rates of sleeplessness such as poor housing, environmental racism, racism-related vigilance, and cultural views of bedtimes. Sleep is vital to our biological, physical, mental, and emotional health, however, there are racial disparities in quality and quantity of sleep between the different races. Specifically, in America, Black people (especially Black men) sleep less and have lesser quality of sleep than White people. Racial disparities in sleep are concerning because when sleeplessness falls along racial lines, the rejuvenating benefits of sleep also fall along racial lines. This also means poor health outcomes that map onto lesser quality of sleep like heart disease will also fall along racial lines.