This article examines how racial differences in socio-economic status (SES), social class, and indicators of perceived discrimination, as well as general measures of stress, contribute to black-white differences in self-reported physical and mental health. Adjusting for education and income significantly reduces racial health disparities, but perceived discrimination and traditional stress measures still play an incremental role in explaining racial health differences. These findings highlight the need for research to understand how economic and non-economic forms of discrimination interact with SES and other risk factors to affect health. Racial differences in health are well-documented, with African Americans having higher rates of death, disease, and disability than whites. Despite decades of research, the factors responsible for these differences remain limited. Historically, research has focused on biological differences, but recent studies emphasize the role of social and economic factors. Racial differences in SES are significant, with African Americans having lower median incomes, higher unemployment rates, and greater poverty rates than whites. Adjusting for SES reduces racial health disparities, but racial differences persist even after SES is controlled for. Racial discrimination and stress are important factors in health outcomes. Discrimination is not just a one-time event but a persistent experience that affects health. Stress is not randomly distributed and is linked to social structure, social status, and social roles. Racial discrimination can lead to psychological distress and physiological changes that affect health. Studies show that racial discrimination is associated with higher blood pressure and contributes to the racial gap in blood pressure. The study used data from the 1995 Detroit Area Study to examine how multiple measures of social stratification, race-related stress, and general stress affect health and explain racial/ethnic variations in health status. The findings show that race-related stress and general stress are important factors in health outcomes. Race-related stress was more strongly related to mental health than physical health. Income was more strongly related to health status than education. The study found that racial differences in health are influenced by SES, race-related stress, and general stress. Race-related stress was more strongly related to mental health than physical health. Income was more strongly related to health status than education. The study also found that racial differences in health are influenced by social class, but social class was generally unrelated to health and played no role in racial differences in disease. The study highlights the importance of considering race-related stress and general stress in understanding racial differences in health. Income is the most important factor in health status, and policies that increase income can improve health outcomes. The study also emphasizes the need for further research on the mechanisms by which SES and stress affect health.This article examines how racial differences in socio-economic status (SES), social class, and indicators of perceived discrimination, as well as general measures of stress, contribute to black-white differences in self-reported physical and mental health. Adjusting for education and income significantly reduces racial health disparities, but perceived discrimination and traditional stress measures still play an incremental role in explaining racial health differences. These findings highlight the need for research to understand how economic and non-economic forms of discrimination interact with SES and other risk factors to affect health. Racial differences in health are well-documented, with African Americans having higher rates of death, disease, and disability than whites. Despite decades of research, the factors responsible for these differences remain limited. Historically, research has focused on biological differences, but recent studies emphasize the role of social and economic factors. Racial differences in SES are significant, with African Americans having lower median incomes, higher unemployment rates, and greater poverty rates than whites. Adjusting for SES reduces racial health disparities, but racial differences persist even after SES is controlled for. Racial discrimination and stress are important factors in health outcomes. Discrimination is not just a one-time event but a persistent experience that affects health. Stress is not randomly distributed and is linked to social structure, social status, and social roles. Racial discrimination can lead to psychological distress and physiological changes that affect health. Studies show that racial discrimination is associated with higher blood pressure and contributes to the racial gap in blood pressure. The study used data from the 1995 Detroit Area Study to examine how multiple measures of social stratification, race-related stress, and general stress affect health and explain racial/ethnic variations in health status. The findings show that race-related stress and general stress are important factors in health outcomes. Race-related stress was more strongly related to mental health than physical health. Income was more strongly related to health status than education. The study found that racial differences in health are influenced by SES, race-related stress, and general stress. Race-related stress was more strongly related to mental health than physical health. Income was more strongly related to health status than education. The study also found that racial differences in health are influenced by social class, but social class was generally unrelated to health and played no role in racial differences in disease. The study highlights the importance of considering race-related stress and general stress in understanding racial differences in health. Income is the most important factor in health status, and policies that increase income can improve health outcomes. The study also emphasizes the need for further research on the mechanisms by which SES and stress affect health.