12 2.5: The Importance of Recognizing and Addressing Racism

“The axe forgets, but the tree remembers.”- African Proverb

Source: Fusion Comedy (2016)

Understanding the various forms of anti-Black racism, from subtle microaggressions to overt macroaggressions, is essential for creating a more inclusive and equitable environment, particularly in healthcare and dietetics. By recognizing these behaviours and actively working to challenge them, dietitians and other healthcare professionals can foster spaces that support and validate the experiences of Black individuals.

It is also important to recognize that these forms of racism can have far-reaching effects on health outcomes. The psychological and emotional toll of repeatedly facing microaggressions can contribute to chronic stress, which has been linked to numerous negative health outcomes, including hypertension, anxiety, and depression (Brondolo, Rieppi, Kelly & Gerin, 2003; Hall & Fields, 2012; Nadal, et. al, 2020). In the healthcare context, failure to address the cultural needs and lived experiences of Black clients can lead to disparities in care and exacerbate existing health inequities.

Creating culturally safe spaces involves not only acknowledging these experiences but also actively working to dismantle the systems and behaviours that perpetuate them. This requires ongoing education, self-reflection, and the willingness to challenge discriminatory practices within dietetics and beyond.

Source: BBC Ideas (2022)

In this video, BBC Ideas (2022) offers some effective examples of how Black people can navigate times when they are targets of microaggressions. Although these strategies may be useful, the burden of this form of racism and the responsibility to further address the underlying root is everyone’s role, regardless of racial identity. Please refer to the activity below to practice how non-Black people may also address anti-Black microaggressions.