Anti-Black Racism (ABR)<\/strong><\/h2>\r\nAnti-Black Racism <\/a>refers to the systemic discrimination, prejudice, and marginalization faced by Black individuals and communities due to their race. It encompasses both overt (e.g., racial slurs, racial segregation, refusing to hire a Black person) and covert forms of discrimination (e.g., racial profiling, fear of Black people, microaggressions, tokenism), perpetuated through social, economic, and political structures (Hampton, 2020).\r\nWhite Supremacy<\/strong><\/h2>\r\nWhite supremacy <\/a>is a system of beliefs and practices that prioritizes and upholds the dominance of white people and white culture while marginalizing and oppressing <\/a>racialized groups. It operates on both individual and institutional levels, perpetuating racial hierarchies and privileging whiteness (DiAngelo, 2018).\r\n\r\nThese concepts connect to our conversation about scientific racism in Chapter 1.3. Continuing to develop your understanding of ABR and white supremacy within the Canadian context will help you to unpack complex examples in a variety of settings.\r\nFraming the Lens: Bias vs. Systemic Racism<\/strong><\/h2>\r\nWhen analyzing client-facing interactions or interactions with your colleagues or peers, it is crucial to distinguish between individual bias and systemic racism. They operate as two sides of the same coin, yet addressing one without recognizing the other leaves a massive gap in care.\r\n\r\n \t- Individual Bias (Intentional or Unintentional):<\/strong>\r\nThe internal attitudes, assumptions, or stereotypes held by an individual practitioner that unconsciously influence how they perceive another person's actions or behaviours (e.g. choices or communication style)<\/li>\r\n \t
- Systemic Racism:<\/strong>\r\nThe institutional structures, policies, and educational curriculum (such as Eurocentric nutrition standards) that institutionalize those biases, making \"whiteness\" the invisible baseline measurement for power, wisdom, health, wellness, and normative behaviour.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nTo capture this dynamic, we can reflect on historical representations of currency, where two distinctly designed sides comprise a single, unified object. Below is an illustration of both sides of an ancient Hebrew coin, originally published in Athanasius Kircher's 1679 study, Turris Babel<\/em>. Just as a coin cannot exist without both its faces, anti-Black racism in practice cannot be dismantled by addressing individual prejudices alone while ignoring the structural framework that legitimizes them.\r\n
![\"An](\"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/abrdietetics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/398\/2024\/08\/Screenshot-2026-06-24-at-10.07.38-PM-300x135.png\")
Do you know the phrase \"two sides of the same coin\"? Individual bias and systemic racism work in tandem.\r\nView high-resolution image of the coin (opens in a new tab)\r\n<\/a>.Source: Athanasius Kircher's- Turris Babel- 1670 (page 215 crop- Hebrew Coin I)<\/em> by Barbaking, licensed under Public Domain.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n\r\nActivity: <\/b>\"Who's in Charge Here?\" Navigating Race, Authority, and Respect in a Healthcare Food Environment. A branching case scenario created by Nickaya Parris, RD, from Nova Scotia. Walking through the scenario for an example of how bias and systemic racism show up in a dietetic workplace<\/h3>\r\n<\/header>\r\n\r\n\r\n[h5p id=\"70\"]<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n
Case Study #1: Unpacking the \"White Perspective\" & \"Whiteness as the Standard\" in Nutritional Care<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\nThe Scenario:<\/strong>\r\nRyan, a white dietitian, is scheduled to meet with Dewit, a patient newly immigrated from Eritrea, for an initial appointment. As he prepares the chart, he uploads his standardized 24-hour recall sheet built around a Eurocentric, three-meal schedule.<\/p>\r\nDuring the appointment, Dewit feels frustrated when Ryan insists that he switch from 1 meal to 3 meals a day and tells him that he is not eating enough protein (e.g., meat, poultry, eggs, milk). Ryan is completely unfamiliar with Dewit\u2019s Orthodox<\/strong> religious fasting schedule.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\ud83e\udde9 Click to Follow Issue: Understanding Dewit's Orthodox Fasting<\/summary>Dewit is a member of the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church. He is dedicated to adhering to his religious fasts that require abstaining from all animal products (meat, poultry, dairy, and eggs) and avoiding food and drink until midday (around 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM). It is a spiritual practice that encompasses about 180 fasting days a year for all believers.\r\n\r\n<\/details>\r\nFurthermore, Ryan doesn't recognize traditional foods Dewit mentions, such as Birsen<\/strong> or Shiro<\/strong>, and keeps directing him to the rigid \u201cbalanced plate\u201d model from Canada\u2019s Food Guide.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\ud83e\udde9 Click to Become Aware: Ryan's Assumptions About Birsen & Shiro<\/summary>Ryan fails to recognize that Dewit is consuming protein because he does not ask questions and makes biased and discriminatory assumptions about Dewit\u2019s traditional foods, eating habits, and nutritional awareness.\r\n\r\n<\/details>\r\nBy the end of the appointment, Ryan\u2019s nutrition assessment states that Dewit is \u201clikely malnourished\u201d<\/em>, \u201clikely consuming inadequate fluids\u201d<\/em>, and \u201clikely not consuming adequate protein\u201d<\/em>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n
\r\n\r\nCritical Learning Points & Additional Resources<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\r\n \t- When tools like Canada\u2019s Food Guide are not adapted and assumed to be a universal baseline, \u201cwhiteness as the standard\u201d is actively enforced, leaving the Black patient judged for their eating traditions, unseen, and structurally locked out of supportive healthcare.<\/li>\r\n \t
- Learn how to prepare Birsen at the Eritrean Style Food YouTube channel (opens in a new tab)<\/a><\/li>\r\n \t
- Learn how to prepare Shiro at Yodit\u2019s Table on YouTube (opens in a new tab)<\/a><\/li>\r\n \t
- Learn more about the history and traditions of the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church (opens in a new tab)\r\n<\/a><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>","rendered":"
Before delving into the expressions of racism within dietetics, it’s essential to establish a clear understanding of
\nAnti-Black Racism (ABR) <\/a>and its connection to white supremacy<\/a>.<\/p>\nAnti-Black Racism (ABR)<\/strong><\/h2>\nAnti-Black Racism <\/a>refers to the systemic discrimination, prejudice, and marginalization faced by Black individuals and communities due to their race. It encompasses both overt (e.g., racial slurs, racial segregation, refusing to hire a Black person) and covert forms of discrimination (e.g., racial profiling, fear of Black people, microaggressions, tokenism), perpetuated through social, economic, and political structures (Hampton, 2020).<\/p>\nWhite Supremacy<\/strong><\/h2>\nWhite supremacy <\/a>is a system of beliefs and practices that prioritizes and upholds the dominance of white people and white culture while marginalizing and oppressing <\/a>racialized groups. It operates on both individual and institutional levels, perpetuating racial hierarchies and privileging whiteness (DiAngelo, 2018).<\/p>\nThese concepts connect to our conversation about scientific racism in Chapter 1.3. Continuing to develop your understanding of ABR and white supremacy within the Canadian context will help you to unpack complex examples in a variety of settings.<\/p>\n
Framing the Lens: Bias vs. Systemic Racism<\/strong><\/h2>\nWhen analyzing client-facing interactions or interactions with your colleagues or peers, it is crucial to distinguish between individual bias and systemic racism. They operate as two sides of the same coin, yet addressing one without recognizing the other leaves a massive gap in care.<\/p>\n
\n- Individual Bias (Intentional or Unintentional):<\/strong>
\nThe internal attitudes, assumptions, or stereotypes held by an individual practitioner that unconsciously influence how they perceive another person’s actions or behaviours (e.g. choices or communication style)<\/li>\n- Systemic Racism:<\/strong>
\nThe institutional structures, policies, and educational curriculum (such as Eurocentric nutrition standards) that institutionalize those biases, making “whiteness” the invisible baseline measurement for power, wisdom, health, wellness, and normative behaviour.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nTo capture this dynamic, we can reflect on historical representations of currency, where two distinctly designed sides comprise a single, unified object. Below is an illustration of both sides of an ancient Hebrew coin, originally published in Athanasius Kircher’s 1679 study, Turris Babel<\/em>. Just as a coin cannot exist without both its faces, anti-Black racism in practice cannot be dismantled by addressing individual prejudices alone while ignoring the structural framework that legitimizes them.<\/p>\nDo you know the phrase “two sides of the same coin”? Individual bias and systemic racism work in tandem.
\nView high-resolution image of the coin (opens in a new tab)
\n<\/a>.Source: Athanasius Kircher’s- Turris Babel- 1670 (page 215 crop- Hebrew Coin I)<\/em> by Barbaking, licensed under Public Domain.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\nActivity: <\/b>“Who’s in Charge Here?” Navigating Race, Authority, and Respect in a Healthcare Food Environment. A branching case scenario created by Nickaya Parris, RD, from Nova Scotia. Walking through the scenario for an example of how bias and systemic racism show up in a dietetic workplace<\/h3>\n<\/header>\n\n\n\n
\n
Framing the Lens: Bias vs. Systemic Racism<\/strong><\/h2>\r\nWhen analyzing client-facing interactions or interactions with your colleagues or peers, it is crucial to distinguish between individual bias and systemic racism. They operate as two sides of the same coin, yet addressing one without recognizing the other leaves a massive gap in care.\r\n\r\n \t- Individual Bias (Intentional or Unintentional):<\/strong>\r\nThe internal attitudes, assumptions, or stereotypes held by an individual practitioner that unconsciously influence how they perceive another person's actions or behaviours (e.g. choices or communication style)<\/li>\r\n \t
- Systemic Racism:<\/strong>\r\nThe institutional structures, policies, and educational curriculum (such as Eurocentric nutrition standards) that institutionalize those biases, making \"whiteness\" the invisible baseline measurement for power, wisdom, health, wellness, and normative behaviour.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nTo capture this dynamic, we can reflect on historical representations of currency, where two distinctly designed sides comprise a single, unified object. Below is an illustration of both sides of an ancient Hebrew coin, originally published in Athanasius Kircher's 1679 study, Turris Babel<\/em>. Just as a coin cannot exist without both its faces, anti-Black racism in practice cannot be dismantled by addressing individual prejudices alone while ignoring the structural framework that legitimizes them.\r\n
Do you know the phrase \"two sides of the same coin\"? Individual bias and systemic racism work in tandem.\r\nView high-resolution image of the coin (opens in a new tab)\r\n<\/a>.Source: Athanasius Kircher's- Turris Babel- 1670 (page 215 crop- Hebrew Coin I)<\/em> by Barbaking, licensed under Public Domain.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n\r\nActivity: <\/b>\"Who's in Charge Here?\" Navigating Race, Authority, and Respect in a Healthcare Food Environment. A branching case scenario created by Nickaya Parris, RD, from Nova Scotia. Walking through the scenario for an example of how bias and systemic racism show up in a dietetic workplace<\/h3>\r\n<\/header>\r\n\r\n\r\n[h5p id=\"70\"]<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n
Case Study #1: Unpacking the \"White Perspective\" & \"Whiteness as the Standard\" in Nutritional Care<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\nThe Scenario:<\/strong>\r\nRyan, a white dietitian, is scheduled to meet with Dewit, a patient newly immigrated from Eritrea, for an initial appointment. As he prepares the chart, he uploads his standardized 24-hour recall sheet built around a Eurocentric, three-meal schedule.<\/p>\r\nDuring the appointment, Dewit feels frustrated when Ryan insists that he switch from 1 meal to 3 meals a day and tells him that he is not eating enough protein (e.g., meat, poultry, eggs, milk). Ryan is completely unfamiliar with Dewit\u2019s Orthodox<\/strong> religious fasting schedule.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\ud83e\udde9 Click to Follow Issue: Understanding Dewit's Orthodox Fasting<\/summary>Dewit is a member of the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church. He is dedicated to adhering to his religious fasts that require abstaining from all animal products (meat, poultry, dairy, and eggs) and avoiding food and drink until midday (around 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM). It is a spiritual practice that encompasses about 180 fasting days a year for all believers.\r\n\r\n<\/details>\r\nFurthermore, Ryan doesn't recognize traditional foods Dewit mentions, such as Birsen<\/strong> or Shiro<\/strong>, and keeps directing him to the rigid \u201cbalanced plate\u201d model from Canada\u2019s Food Guide.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\ud83e\udde9 Click to Become Aware: Ryan's Assumptions About Birsen & Shiro<\/summary>Ryan fails to recognize that Dewit is consuming protein because he does not ask questions and makes biased and discriminatory assumptions about Dewit\u2019s traditional foods, eating habits, and nutritional awareness.\r\n\r\n<\/details>\r\nBy the end of the appointment, Ryan\u2019s nutrition assessment states that Dewit is \u201clikely malnourished\u201d<\/em>, \u201clikely consuming inadequate fluids\u201d<\/em>, and \u201clikely not consuming adequate protein\u201d<\/em>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n
\r\n\r\nCritical Learning Points & Additional Resources<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\r\n \t- When tools like Canada\u2019s Food Guide are not adapted and assumed to be a universal baseline, \u201cwhiteness as the standard\u201d is actively enforced, leaving the Black patient judged for their eating traditions, unseen, and structurally locked out of supportive healthcare.<\/li>\r\n \t
- Learn how to prepare Birsen at the Eritrean Style Food YouTube channel (opens in a new tab)<\/a><\/li>\r\n \t
- Learn how to prepare Shiro at Yodit\u2019s Table on YouTube (opens in a new tab)<\/a><\/li>\r\n \t
- Learn more about the history and traditions of the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church (opens in a new tab)\r\n<\/a><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>","rendered":"
Before delving into the expressions of racism within dietetics, it’s essential to establish a clear understanding of
\nAnti-Black Racism (ABR) <\/a>and its connection to white supremacy<\/a>.<\/p>\nAnti-Black Racism (ABR)<\/strong><\/h2>\nAnti-Black Racism <\/a>refers to the systemic discrimination, prejudice, and marginalization faced by Black individuals and communities due to their race. It encompasses both overt (e.g., racial slurs, racial segregation, refusing to hire a Black person) and covert forms of discrimination (e.g., racial profiling, fear of Black people, microaggressions, tokenism), perpetuated through social, economic, and political structures (Hampton, 2020).<\/p>\nWhite Supremacy<\/strong><\/h2>\nWhite supremacy <\/a>is a system of beliefs and practices that prioritizes and upholds the dominance of white people and white culture while marginalizing and oppressing <\/a>racialized groups. It operates on both individual and institutional levels, perpetuating racial hierarchies and privileging whiteness (DiAngelo, 2018).<\/p>\nThese concepts connect to our conversation about scientific racism in Chapter 1.3. Continuing to develop your understanding of ABR and white supremacy within the Canadian context will help you to unpack complex examples in a variety of settings.<\/p>\n
Framing the Lens: Bias vs. Systemic Racism<\/strong><\/h2>\nWhen analyzing client-facing interactions or interactions with your colleagues or peers, it is crucial to distinguish between individual bias and systemic racism. They operate as two sides of the same coin, yet addressing one without recognizing the other leaves a massive gap in care.<\/p>\n
\n- Individual Bias (Intentional or Unintentional):<\/strong>
\nThe internal attitudes, assumptions, or stereotypes held by an individual practitioner that unconsciously influence how they perceive another person’s actions or behaviours (e.g. choices or communication style)<\/li>\n- Systemic Racism:<\/strong>
\nThe institutional structures, policies, and educational curriculum (such as Eurocentric nutrition standards) that institutionalize those biases, making “whiteness” the invisible baseline measurement for power, wisdom, health, wellness, and normative behaviour.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nTo capture this dynamic, we can reflect on historical representations of currency, where two distinctly designed sides comprise a single, unified object. Below is an illustration of both sides of an ancient Hebrew coin, originally published in Athanasius Kircher’s 1679 study, Turris Babel<\/em>. Just as a coin cannot exist without both its faces, anti-Black racism in practice cannot be dismantled by addressing individual prejudices alone while ignoring the structural framework that legitimizes them.<\/p>\nDo you know the phrase “two sides of the same coin”? Individual bias and systemic racism work in tandem.
\nView high-resolution image of the coin (opens in a new tab)
\n<\/a>.Source: Athanasius Kircher’s- Turris Babel- 1670 (page 215 crop- Hebrew Coin I)<\/em> by Barbaking, licensed under Public Domain.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\nActivity: <\/b>“Who’s in Charge Here?” Navigating Race, Authority, and Respect in a Healthcare Food Environment. A branching case scenario created by Nickaya Parris, RD, from Nova Scotia. Walking through the scenario for an example of how bias and systemic racism show up in a dietetic workplace<\/h3>\n<\/header>\n\n\n\n
\n
Activity: <\/b>\"Who's in Charge Here?\" Navigating Race, Authority, and Respect in a Healthcare Food Environment. A branching case scenario created by Nickaya Parris, RD, from Nova Scotia. Walking through the scenario for an example of how bias and systemic racism show up in a dietetic workplace<\/h3>\r\n<\/header>\r\n\r\n\r\n[h5p id=\"70\"]<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n
Case Study #1: Unpacking the \"White Perspective\" & \"Whiteness as the Standard\" in Nutritional Care<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\nThe Scenario:<\/strong>\r\nRyan, a white dietitian, is scheduled to meet with Dewit, a patient newly immigrated from Eritrea, for an initial appointment. As he prepares the chart, he uploads his standardized 24-hour recall sheet built around a Eurocentric, three-meal schedule.<\/p>\r\nDuring the appointment, Dewit feels frustrated when Ryan insists that he switch from 1 meal to 3 meals a day and tells him that he is not eating enough protein (e.g., meat, poultry, eggs, milk). Ryan is completely unfamiliar with Dewit\u2019s Orthodox<\/strong> religious fasting schedule.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\ud83e\udde9 Click to Follow Issue: Understanding Dewit's Orthodox Fasting<\/summary>Dewit is a member of the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church. He is dedicated to adhering to his religious fasts that require abstaining from all animal products (meat, poultry, dairy, and eggs) and avoiding food and drink until midday (around 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM). It is a spiritual practice that encompasses about 180 fasting days a year for all believers.\r\n\r\n<\/details>\r\nFurthermore, Ryan doesn't recognize traditional foods Dewit mentions, such as Birsen<\/strong> or Shiro<\/strong>, and keeps directing him to the rigid \u201cbalanced plate\u201d model from Canada\u2019s Food Guide.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\ud83e\udde9 Click to Become Aware: Ryan's Assumptions About Birsen & Shiro<\/summary>Ryan fails to recognize that Dewit is consuming protein because he does not ask questions and makes biased and discriminatory assumptions about Dewit\u2019s traditional foods, eating habits, and nutritional awareness.\r\n\r\n<\/details>\r\nBy the end of the appointment, Ryan\u2019s nutrition assessment states that Dewit is \u201clikely malnourished\u201d<\/em>, \u201clikely consuming inadequate fluids\u201d<\/em>, and \u201clikely not consuming adequate protein\u201d<\/em>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n
\r\n\r\nCritical Learning Points & Additional Resources<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\r\n \t- When tools like Canada\u2019s Food Guide are not adapted and assumed to be a universal baseline, \u201cwhiteness as the standard\u201d is actively enforced, leaving the Black patient judged for their eating traditions, unseen, and structurally locked out of supportive healthcare.<\/li>\r\n \t
- Learn how to prepare Birsen at the Eritrean Style Food YouTube channel (opens in a new tab)<\/a><\/li>\r\n \t
- Learn how to prepare Shiro at Yodit\u2019s Table on YouTube (opens in a new tab)<\/a><\/li>\r\n \t
- Learn more about the history and traditions of the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church (opens in a new tab)\r\n<\/a><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>","rendered":"
Before delving into the expressions of racism within dietetics, it’s essential to establish a clear understanding of
\nAnti-Black Racism (ABR) <\/a>and its connection to white supremacy<\/a>.<\/p>\nAnti-Black Racism (ABR)<\/strong><\/h2>\nAnti-Black Racism <\/a>refers to the systemic discrimination, prejudice, and marginalization faced by Black individuals and communities due to their race. It encompasses both overt (e.g., racial slurs, racial segregation, refusing to hire a Black person) and covert forms of discrimination (e.g., racial profiling, fear of Black people, microaggressions, tokenism), perpetuated through social, economic, and political structures (Hampton, 2020).<\/p>\nWhite Supremacy<\/strong><\/h2>\nWhite supremacy <\/a>is a system of beliefs and practices that prioritizes and upholds the dominance of white people and white culture while marginalizing and oppressing <\/a>racialized groups. It operates on both individual and institutional levels, perpetuating racial hierarchies and privileging whiteness (DiAngelo, 2018).<\/p>\nThese concepts connect to our conversation about scientific racism in Chapter 1.3. Continuing to develop your understanding of ABR and white supremacy within the Canadian context will help you to unpack complex examples in a variety of settings.<\/p>\n
Framing the Lens: Bias vs. Systemic Racism<\/strong><\/h2>\nWhen analyzing client-facing interactions or interactions with your colleagues or peers, it is crucial to distinguish between individual bias and systemic racism. They operate as two sides of the same coin, yet addressing one without recognizing the other leaves a massive gap in care.<\/p>\n
\n- Individual Bias (Intentional or Unintentional):<\/strong>
\nThe internal attitudes, assumptions, or stereotypes held by an individual practitioner that unconsciously influence how they perceive another person’s actions or behaviours (e.g. choices or communication style)<\/li>\n- Systemic Racism:<\/strong>
\nThe institutional structures, policies, and educational curriculum (such as Eurocentric nutrition standards) that institutionalize those biases, making “whiteness” the invisible baseline measurement for power, wisdom, health, wellness, and normative behaviour.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nTo capture this dynamic, we can reflect on historical representations of currency, where two distinctly designed sides comprise a single, unified object. Below is an illustration of both sides of an ancient Hebrew coin, originally published in Athanasius Kircher’s 1679 study, Turris Babel<\/em>. Just as a coin cannot exist without both its faces, anti-Black racism in practice cannot be dismantled by addressing individual prejudices alone while ignoring the structural framework that legitimizes them.<\/p>\nDo you know the phrase “two sides of the same coin”? Individual bias and systemic racism work in tandem.
\nView high-resolution image of the coin (opens in a new tab)
\n<\/a>.Source: Athanasius Kircher’s- Turris Babel- 1670 (page 215 crop- Hebrew Coin I)<\/em> by Barbaking, licensed under Public Domain.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\nActivity: <\/b>“Who’s in Charge Here?” Navigating Race, Authority, and Respect in a Healthcare Food Environment. A branching case scenario created by Nickaya Parris, RD, from Nova Scotia. Walking through the scenario for an example of how bias and systemic racism show up in a dietetic workplace<\/h3>\n<\/header>\n\n\n\n
\n
[h5p id=\"70\"]<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n
Case Study #1: Unpacking the \"White Perspective\" & \"Whiteness as the Standard\" in Nutritional Care<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\nThe Scenario:<\/strong>\r\nRyan, a white dietitian, is scheduled to meet with Dewit, a patient newly immigrated from Eritrea, for an initial appointment. As he prepares the chart, he uploads his standardized 24-hour recall sheet built around a Eurocentric, three-meal schedule.<\/p>\r\nDuring the appointment, Dewit feels frustrated when Ryan insists that he switch from 1 meal to 3 meals a day and tells him that he is not eating enough protein (e.g., meat, poultry, eggs, milk). Ryan is completely unfamiliar with Dewit\u2019s Orthodox<\/strong> religious fasting schedule.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\ud83e\udde9 Click to Follow Issue: Understanding Dewit's Orthodox Fasting<\/summary>Dewit is a member of the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church. He is dedicated to adhering to his religious fasts that require abstaining from all animal products (meat, poultry, dairy, and eggs) and avoiding food and drink until midday (around 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM). It is a spiritual practice that encompasses about 180 fasting days a year for all believers.\r\n\r\n<\/details>\r\nFurthermore, Ryan doesn't recognize traditional foods Dewit mentions, such as Birsen<\/strong> or Shiro<\/strong>, and keeps directing him to the rigid \u201cbalanced plate\u201d model from Canada\u2019s Food Guide.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\ud83e\udde9 Click to Become Aware: Ryan's Assumptions About Birsen & Shiro<\/summary>Ryan fails to recognize that Dewit is consuming protein because he does not ask questions and makes biased and discriminatory assumptions about Dewit\u2019s traditional foods, eating habits, and nutritional awareness.\r\n\r\n<\/details>\r\nBy the end of the appointment, Ryan\u2019s nutrition assessment states that Dewit is \u201clikely malnourished\u201d<\/em>, \u201clikely consuming inadequate fluids\u201d<\/em>, and \u201clikely not consuming adequate protein\u201d<\/em>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n
\r\n\r\nCritical Learning Points & Additional Resources<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\r\n \t- When tools like Canada\u2019s Food Guide are not adapted and assumed to be a universal baseline, \u201cwhiteness as the standard\u201d is actively enforced, leaving the Black patient judged for their eating traditions, unseen, and structurally locked out of supportive healthcare.<\/li>\r\n \t
- Learn how to prepare Birsen at the Eritrean Style Food YouTube channel (opens in a new tab)<\/a><\/li>\r\n \t
- Learn how to prepare Shiro at Yodit\u2019s Table on YouTube (opens in a new tab)<\/a><\/li>\r\n \t
- Learn more about the history and traditions of the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church (opens in a new tab)\r\n<\/a><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>","rendered":"
Before delving into the expressions of racism within dietetics, it’s essential to establish a clear understanding of
\nAnti-Black Racism (ABR) <\/a>and its connection to white supremacy<\/a>.<\/p>\nAnti-Black Racism (ABR)<\/strong><\/h2>\nAnti-Black Racism <\/a>refers to the systemic discrimination, prejudice, and marginalization faced by Black individuals and communities due to their race. It encompasses both overt (e.g., racial slurs, racial segregation, refusing to hire a Black person) and covert forms of discrimination (e.g., racial profiling, fear of Black people, microaggressions, tokenism), perpetuated through social, economic, and political structures (Hampton, 2020).<\/p>\nWhite Supremacy<\/strong><\/h2>\nWhite supremacy <\/a>is a system of beliefs and practices that prioritizes and upholds the dominance of white people and white culture while marginalizing and oppressing <\/a>racialized groups. It operates on both individual and institutional levels, perpetuating racial hierarchies and privileging whiteness (DiAngelo, 2018).<\/p>\nThese concepts connect to our conversation about scientific racism in Chapter 1.3. Continuing to develop your understanding of ABR and white supremacy within the Canadian context will help you to unpack complex examples in a variety of settings.<\/p>\n
Framing the Lens: Bias vs. Systemic Racism<\/strong><\/h2>\nWhen analyzing client-facing interactions or interactions with your colleagues or peers, it is crucial to distinguish between individual bias and systemic racism. They operate as two sides of the same coin, yet addressing one without recognizing the other leaves a massive gap in care.<\/p>\n
\n- Individual Bias (Intentional or Unintentional):<\/strong>
\nThe internal attitudes, assumptions, or stereotypes held by an individual practitioner that unconsciously influence how they perceive another person’s actions or behaviours (e.g. choices or communication style)<\/li>\n- Systemic Racism:<\/strong>
\nThe institutional structures, policies, and educational curriculum (such as Eurocentric nutrition standards) that institutionalize those biases, making “whiteness” the invisible baseline measurement for power, wisdom, health, wellness, and normative behaviour.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nTo capture this dynamic, we can reflect on historical representations of currency, where two distinctly designed sides comprise a single, unified object. Below is an illustration of both sides of an ancient Hebrew coin, originally published in Athanasius Kircher’s 1679 study, Turris Babel<\/em>. Just as a coin cannot exist without both its faces, anti-Black racism in practice cannot be dismantled by addressing individual prejudices alone while ignoring the structural framework that legitimizes them.<\/p>\nDo you know the phrase “two sides of the same coin”? Individual bias and systemic racism work in tandem.
\nView high-resolution image of the coin (opens in a new tab)
\n<\/a>.Source: Athanasius Kircher’s- Turris Babel- 1670 (page 215 crop- Hebrew Coin I)<\/em> by Barbaking, licensed under Public Domain.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\nActivity: <\/b>“Who’s in Charge Here?” Navigating Race, Authority, and Respect in a Healthcare Food Environment. A branching case scenario created by Nickaya Parris, RD, from Nova Scotia. Walking through the scenario for an example of how bias and systemic racism show up in a dietetic workplace<\/h3>\n<\/header>\n\n\n\n
\n
The Scenario:<\/strong>\r\nRyan, a white dietitian, is scheduled to meet with Dewit, a patient newly immigrated from Eritrea, for an initial appointment. As he prepares the chart, he uploads his standardized 24-hour recall sheet built around a Eurocentric, three-meal schedule.<\/p>\r\n During the appointment, Dewit feels frustrated when Ryan insists that he switch from 1 meal to 3 meals a day and tells him that he is not eating enough protein (e.g., meat, poultry, eggs, milk). Ryan is completely unfamiliar with Dewit\u2019s Orthodox<\/strong> religious fasting schedule.<\/p>\r\n\r\n Furthermore, Ryan doesn't recognize traditional foods Dewit mentions, such as Birsen<\/strong> or Shiro<\/strong>, and keeps directing him to the rigid \u201cbalanced plate\u201d model from Canada\u2019s Food Guide.<\/p>\r\n\r\n By the end of the appointment, Ryan\u2019s nutrition assessment states that Dewit is \u201clikely malnourished\u201d<\/em>, \u201clikely consuming inadequate fluids\u201d<\/em>, and \u201clikely not consuming adequate protein\u201d<\/em>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n Before delving into the expressions of racism within dietetics, it’s essential to establish a clear understanding of Anti-Black Racism <\/a>refers to the systemic discrimination, prejudice, and marginalization faced by Black individuals and communities due to their race. It encompasses both overt (e.g., racial slurs, racial segregation, refusing to hire a Black person) and covert forms of discrimination (e.g., racial profiling, fear of Black people, microaggressions, tokenism), perpetuated through social, economic, and political structures (Hampton, 2020).<\/p>\n White supremacy <\/a>is a system of beliefs and practices that prioritizes and upholds the dominance of white people and white culture while marginalizing and oppressing <\/a>racialized groups. It operates on both individual and institutional levels, perpetuating racial hierarchies and privileging whiteness (DiAngelo, 2018).<\/p>\n These concepts connect to our conversation about scientific racism in Chapter 1.3. Continuing to develop your understanding of ABR and white supremacy within the Canadian context will help you to unpack complex examples in a variety of settings.<\/p>\n When analyzing client-facing interactions or interactions with your colleagues or peers, it is crucial to distinguish between individual bias and systemic racism. They operate as two sides of the same coin, yet addressing one without recognizing the other leaves a massive gap in care.<\/p>\n To capture this dynamic, we can reflect on historical representations of currency, where two distinctly designed sides comprise a single, unified object. Below is an illustration of both sides of an ancient Hebrew coin, originally published in Athanasius Kircher’s 1679 study, Turris Babel<\/em>. Just as a coin cannot exist without both its faces, anti-Black racism in practice cannot be dismantled by addressing individual prejudices alone while ignoring the structural framework that legitimizes them.<\/p>\n \n\ud83e\udde9 Click to Follow Issue: Understanding Dewit's Orthodox Fasting<\/summary>Dewit is a member of the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church. He is dedicated to adhering to his religious fasts that require abstaining from all animal products (meat, poultry, dairy, and eggs) and avoiding food and drink until midday (around 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM). It is a spiritual practice that encompasses about 180 fasting days a year for all believers.\r\n\r\n<\/details>\r\n
\ud83e\udde9 Click to Become Aware: Ryan's Assumptions About Birsen & Shiro<\/summary>Ryan fails to recognize that Dewit is consuming protein because he does not ask questions and makes biased and discriminatory assumptions about Dewit\u2019s traditional foods, eating habits, and nutritional awareness.\r\n\r\n<\/details>\r\n
\r\n\r\nCritical Learning Points & Additional Resources<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n
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\nAnti-Black Racism (ABR) <\/a>and its connection to white supremacy<\/a>.<\/p>\nAnti-Black Racism (ABR)<\/strong><\/h2>\n
White Supremacy<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Framing the Lens: Bias vs. Systemic Racism<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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\nThe internal attitudes, assumptions, or stereotypes held by an individual practitioner that unconsciously influence how they perceive another person’s actions or behaviours (e.g. choices or communication style)<\/li>\n
\nThe institutional structures, policies, and educational curriculum (such as Eurocentric nutrition standards) that institutionalize those biases, making “whiteness” the invisible baseline measurement for power, wisdom, health, wellness, and normative behaviour.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\nView high-resolution image of the coin (opens in a new tab)
\n<\/a>.Source: Athanasius Kircher’s- Turris Babel- 1670 (page 215 crop- Hebrew Coin I)<\/em> by Barbaking, licensed under Public Domain.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nActivity: <\/b>“Who’s in Charge Here?” Navigating Race, Authority, and Respect in a Healthcare Food Environment. A branching case scenario created by Nickaya Parris, RD, from Nova Scotia. Walking through the scenario for an example of how bias and systemic racism show up in a dietetic workplace<\/h3>\n<\/header>\n