The Quiet Cost of Everyday Racism
Jul 28, 2025
What science reveals about racial stress, cellular ageing, and the power of being heard
In the world of diversity and inclusion, racism is often treated as a social or professional issue. But what if racism also affects our health at a biological level?
A study published in Annals of Epidemiology explored this question. It asked whether the everyday stress of racism could actually accelerate ageing in the body.
Researchers examined the telomeres of over 900 African American women. Telomeres are the protective ends of our DNA that get shorter as we age (similar to the plastic ends of shoelaces). When they become too short, our cells struggle to function, leading to increased risk of diseases such as cancer and heart disease. As someone who has had cancer, this is particularly pertinent to me.
The study found something particularly striking.
Black women who experienced high levels of everyday racism and kept those experiences to themselves had significantly shorter telomeres. However, women who talked about their experiences did not show this same biological impact.
In short, staying silent about racial trauma may actually speed up the ageing process. Politeness, aka silence, can be detrimental to your health; it can be harmful.
This insight will resonate with many Black people. So many of us have internalised the need to remain calm, to not cause a fuss, to maintain professionalism, even in the face of daily microaggressions or outright discrimination. Accepting statements like “You’re using the race card”, or “You’re being disruptive”, or “Why does it always have to be about race? ”That quiet endurance of such microincivilities may feel necessary, but the cost is very real.
As stated in the title of Bessel Van Der Kolk's book, “The Body Keeps The Score.
What about Black people in the UK?
While this study focused on African American women, the findings are deeply relevant to the UK context.
Professor James Nazroo (University of Manchester) and Professor Stephani Hatch (King’s College London) have both conducted significant research showing that racism in the UK causes chronic stress and poorer health outcomes. Black British people face higher risks of high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and mental health challenges. These outcomes persist even after adjusting for income or education, pointing to racism itself as a key factor.
We do not yet have large-scale UK studies linking racism to biological markers like telomere length. But we do have extensive evidence that racism contributes to long-term physical and psychological harm in Black communities here.
Until our institutions invest in this research, we must draw on what is available and take the warning seriously.
What does this mean for workplaces and leaders?
If you are serious about wellbeing, inclusion, or equity, this is your opportunity to act with more clarity and intention.
This research shows that:
- Racism does not end at the office door. It walks in with your team every day.
- Choosing not to talk about race does not make the problem go away. It pushes people further into silence.
- Safe, supported spaces where people can talk about their lived experiences are not a luxury. They are protective, practical, and essential for employee wellbeing.
At Strawberry Words, we regularly see the transformation that happens when workplaces commit to building compassionate cultures. It is not just about policies or training sessions. It is about people, relationships, trust and safety. When staff are educated on cultural humility and antiracism, compassionate cultures are far more achievable.
For Black readers who are suffering
If you are reading this and carrying your own experiences of racism in silence, I want you to know this:
Your experiences matter. Your pain is valid. You are not imagining it, and you are not alone.
Racism is not just about individual incidents. It is a system that can make us doubt ourselves, question our worth, and carry burdens that others do not even see.
If you are unable to speak about what you are going through, I hear you. But please know that keeping it all in may be doing more harm than good. Where you can, allow yourself to:
- Speak to someone you trust. A friend, a therapist, a support group. Someone who will not minimise your experiences.
- Name what is happening. There is power in calling racism what it is.
- Let go of the idea that you must always be strong. Rest is not weakness. It is survival.
- Find ways to release the pressure. This might be through movement, journaling, going for a hike, faith, art, or simply taking a break from spaces that deplete you.
You do not have to be silent. And you do not have to carry it alone.
A question for us all
Are we building environments where Black people can speak freely, be heard, and heal or are we still clinging to cultures where silence is expected and pain is hidden?
This study, and others like it, remind us that racism is not only a social injustice. It is a health crisis; one we cannot afford to ignore.
Rebbecca Hemmings Founder and CEO, Strawberry Words, Helping organisations create culturally humble organisations that are emotionally and physically safe for all
PS: Learn how to create compassionate cultures through our online courses and FREE blog: www.strawberrywords.co.uk
Talking about racism can seem difficult and uncomfortable. This CPD accredited course provides a foundational education on racism to help to increase racial literacy which includes building confidence to speak about and deal with issues concerning race. It provides a language through which meaningful conversation can take place (particularly in the workplace).
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