Sherman A. James is a social epidemiologist who studies how social factors contribute to racial and ethnic disparities in health and health care. He is perhaps best known for originating the John Henryism hypothesis, which posits that repetitive, “high-effort” coping with social and economic adversity is a major contributor to the well-known excess risk for hypertension and related cardiovascular diseases experienced by poor and working class African Americans.
Professional positions
- 2003–present: Susan B. King Distinguished Professor of Public Policy (emeritus 2014–present), Duke University
- 2014–2017: Research professor of epidemiology and African American studies, Emory University
- 1989–2003: Professor of epidemiology, University of Michigan
- 1973–1989: Assistant (1973–1980), associate (1980–1985), and full (1985–1989) professor of epidemiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Notable publications
- James, Sherman A. 2019. “John Henryism, structural racism, and cardiovascular health risks in African Americans.” In Racism: Science & Tools for the Public Health Professional, eds. Chandra L. Ford, Derek M. Griffith, Marino A. Bruce, and Keon L. Gilbert, 171–189. Washington, DC: American Public Health Association Press.
- James, Sherman A. 1994. “John Henryism and the health of African-Americans.” Culture, Medicine and Psychiatry 18: 163–182.
- James, Sherman A., Nora L. Keenan, David S. Strogatz, Steven R. Browning, and Joanne M. Garrett. 1992. “Socioeconomic status, John Henryism, and blood pressure in Black adults: The Pitt County study.” American Journal of Epidemiology 135(1): 59–67.
Degrees
- PhD, social psychology, Washington University in St. Louis
- AB, psychology and philosophy, Talladega College
