10 2.2 What We Do and Do Not Know

Anti-Black Racism (ABR) in Canadian dietetics reflects broader systemic issues seen across healthcare. Research has illuminated the inequities faced by Black Canadians regarding health outcomes and access to nutrition care. Studies reveal that Black individuals experience higher rates of chronic diseases, including hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease, largely due to socio-economic and systemic barriers (Seligman & Schillinger, 2010; Public Health Agency of Canada, n.d.). These disparities are compounded by the lack of culturally appropriate care, where Black patients’ unique dietary and cultural needs are often overlooked, discriminated by or misunderstood by healthcare providers, including dietitians (Ng, 2023).

Current research highlights the critical need to confront these systemic inequities and biases within dietetics. However, gaps remain in understanding the full extent of ABR’s impacts on both practitioners and patients. There is insufficient data on the experiences of Black Registered Dietitians (RDs) and how racism within the profession affects their ability to serve Black communities. Moreover, research on the intersectional experiences of Black women, Black LGBTQ+ individuals, and other subgroups in dietetics is limited, leaving an incomplete picture of how these dynamics influence access to care (Ng, 2023).

Ongoing research is vital to address these gaps and promote health equity within the field. By continuing to investigate and acknowledge systemic racism, dietitians can improve their care approaches, ensuring that nutrition and health services are accessible, inclusive, and effective for Black Canadians (Ng, Wellington, & Pabani, 2024). This commitment to research also empowers dietitians to advocate for policy changes and greater representation within the profession, fostering an environment that values diversity and cultural competency (Abdulhamid, 2021).

Key Concepts:

• Race: A social and political construct, with no scientific basis, used to arbitrarily categorize people based on their physical traits, cultural, geographical, social, political, and economic factors. It is a frame of reference used to locate, compare, and differentiate Europeans from other socially-constructed groups.
• Anti-Black Racism: A particular form of racism expressed towards Black people and seen in policies and practices rooted in Canadian institutions such as education, healthcare, and justice that mirror and reinforce beliefs, attitudes, prejudice, stereotyping, and/or discrimination.

The Importance of Continuing This Work

The global push for racial justice, highlighted by the Black Lives Matter movement, has brought systemic racism to the forefront of societal discussions. This movement has extended into healthcare fields, calling for more inclusive and equitable practices. The importance of continuing research on ABR in Canadian dietetics is part of this broader call to action. By deepening our understanding of the role systemic racism plays in shaping health outcomes, we can develop strategies to promote health equity and inclusivity (Abdulhamid, 2021; Ng, Wellington, & Pabani, 2024).

In the final section of this chapter, we reflect on the everyday experiences of racism that Black individuals encounter. These experiences often manifest as “brief and commonplace, daily verbal, behavioral, or environmental indignities, whether intentional or unintentional, that communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative racial slights and insults toward BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour)” (Sue et al., 2007). Though seemingly minor to those who perpetrate them, these instances, often referred to as microaggressions, have a profound cumulative impact on the well-being and mental health of those who experience them. They contribute to feelings of exclusion, alienation, and a diminished sense of belonging within various settings, including professional and healthcare environments (Cleveland Clinic, 2021).