NFL Concussion Case Illustrates a Deadly Form of Racism

The issue of professional-football concussions might not seem all that important in the context of a global plague. Yet a dispute over how the National Football League is addressing them illustrates a sort of racism that pervades the medical profession, and that is hampering the country’s efforts to defeat the pandemic.

Black NFL players are no less susceptible to concussions than those of other races. But according to a lawsuit filed by some of those players, they have struggled to tap the settlement money set aside to compensate for such injuries. Problem is, the required medical tests often employ racial norms that assume a lower baseline cognitive function for Black people, making it harder for them to demonstrate enough impairment to qualify.