Racism Awareness Is Not Enough

The recent turmoil following yet another murder by police of a Black man has made it clear that systemic racism is embedded in our history and our culture. Yes, there have been real efforts to effect change over the last 50 years: Diversity trainings have been annual events for corporations and educational institutions for decades. Since the early 1960s, many companies, organizations, and educational institutions have designated affirmative-action or diversity officers whose job it is to make sure that qualified BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and people of color) are recruited and retained. Black studies departments have been part of colleges and universities since the late 1960s.  Professional mental health organizations have established committees and published policies to make their members aware of the impact of racism and to establish best practices. Martin Luther King Jr Day was established as a federal holiday to honor the Civil Rights leader in 1983.  Juneteenth has been increasingly recognized as a state holiday. Since Texas recognized it in 1980, 45 other states and the District of Columbia have recognized the day. There is now a push to make it a federal holiday. Despite such efforts, racism continues in America. Why? I suggest that many Americans have let “awareness” — or at least the illusion of awareness be a substitute for action. The efforts to increase awareness allow white America to blindly continue the practice of systemic racism that is embedded i...
Source: World of Psychology - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: Racism antiracist Black Lives Matter microaggression Prejudice Source Type: blogs