Written by: Nicole M. Augustine, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
The problem of social inequity is a harsh reality in our society, one that we hesitate to talk about. Yet, we see the reality of social inequity everywhere: in the way that some people have more wealth than others, access more power than others, and in the way, some people are treated indelibly better than others. We live in a society embedded with gross social inequity. What few people realize is that this problem has its roots in something much deeper: racial stigma.
In order to address social inequities, we have to first identify and name their root causes. Many times, these root causes are hidden or invisible to us. In this article, I want to talk about one of the "invisible" root causes of social inequity: racial stigma.
What exactly is racial stigma? It is the negative attitudes, false beliefs, or perpetuated stereotypes that one group of people may have about another group of people, solely based on the level of melanin in a person's skin. Racial stigma creates a system of socially constructed barriers to success and wellness for one group of people versus the preferred group. These outmoded attitudes, coupled with the construct of biased social systems, produce racial inequity. Racial inequity is when two groups of people are not treated equally because of their skin colour. When you think about it, it's truly an odd thing that we still carry this narrative from the "old days", by accepting or turning a blind eye to the inequities created by differences in skin colour.
Racial inequities are observed in many areas of life; education, employment, housing, and healthcare, to name a few. As a society, we accept these disparities as a normal part of life. In fact, there are some that see the disparities and believe "that's just how those people live". This misconception needs to change, and I believe this change starts with a true and honest examination of our collective consciousness.
"Nearly a century and a half after the destruction of the institution of slavery, and a half-century past the dawn of the civil rights movement, social life in the United States continues to be characterized by significant racial stratification. Numerous indices of well-being—wages, unemployment rates, income and wealth levels, ability test scores, prison enrollment, crime victimization rates, health and mortality statistics—all reveal substantial racial disparities. So we have a problem; it will be with us for a while, and it behoves us to think hard about what can and should be done."
Those words read like they were written today. However, the author wrote those words in 2005, over 15 years ago. We are in 2022 and the U.S. is still "characterized by significant racial stratification". How can this be? More importantly, what can be done to change it?
So often I hear folx express emotions of feeling overwhelmed, intimidated, or even fearful of the vastness of this social problem. This feeling leads to discouragement and a belief that "I've got no power to influence the system", or "What can I do, I'm just one person?". These beliefs keep us stagnant, locked into a state of inaction. As a result of this state of inaction, we exist in a future where health and social outcomes are still significantly modified by a person's skin colour; a trait to the individual acquired from inception, much like height, eye colour, hair texture, etc.
I believe there is something YOU can do, as YOU already possess the power to influence the system of social inequity. I offer you an opportunity for thought and reflection.
There are three core strategies we can all commit to:
Mindset development
Removing racial stigma begins with Mindset Development, by unlearning the myriad of negative beliefs constructed from our collective past. This requires each of us to do our part in self-examination to replace outdated knowledge, and establish a new narrative focused on the truth: We are ALL entitled to live our best life!
Rx Racial Healing (https://rxracialhealing.com/), is an initiative focused on using a healing and heart-centred approach to get rid of the false belief that any people are superior to others based on their skin colour. Let's do the work of setting our nation on an irreversible path toward racial healing and equity.
Advocacy
The U.S. is a democratic republic, meaning we elect representatives (mayors, governors, members of Congress, etc) to advocate on our behalf and carry out policies and practices in alignment with our interests. What makes a democracy unique is that it is ruled by the people. That's US!
The question becomes when we look at our communities, are we seeing policies and practices that perpetuate inequity? If so, then We the People should inform our representatives of the inequities we see and assist them in doing the work of leveraging the power of advocacy to positively influence our society. The work of advocacy naturally follows the mindset development work. For, how can your eyes be opened to the dysfunction of the system, and continue to ignore that reality.
Promotion
In public health, we are taught that promotion is foundational to creating wide systemic change. Promotion is the process of enabling people to increase control over and to improve their lived experience. This includes providing support to governments, communities, and individuals to cope with and address social challenges. This is accomplished by building healthy public policies, creating supportive environments, and strengthening community action and personal skills. Promotion is a close cousin to Advocacy, and they have often used incongruence for maximum impact.
Public health has a long history of highly successful health promotion initiatives that have shifted social norms in a profound way. Some of you may remember a world where:
People smoked on airplanes,
Doctors recommended cigarettes,
Cars without seatbelts, or
Children being able to buy alcohol and tobacco for someone else!
It's time for a new narrative. We have decades of evidence showing the need to update our consciousness and work collaboratively to promote the message of racial health. Let us adopt beliefs that perpetuate improved outcomes for ALL.
For those who have read this article and have already experienced or worked from this shift in consciousness, “Thank you, I appreciate your work and commitment to creating a better world.” I'm excited to connect with others who care about building a better future for everyone, regardless of skin colour.
Thank you for reading.
Suggested readings
Christopher, G. C. (2019, July 31). RX Racial Health. Rx Racial Healing.
Loury, G. C. (2005). Racial stigma and its consequences. Focus, 24(1).
McGhee, H. (2022). The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together (Reprint ed.). One World.
Racial Equity Tools | Home. (2020). Racial Equity Tools.
Racism and Health. (2021). American Public Health Association.
Nicole M. Augustine, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Nicole M. Augustine is a social entrepreneur, public health professional, and social justice advocate. She was born in Inglewood, CA, in the early 80s during the decade in America known for the "crack epidemic ." This was her first experience with social injustice, racial inequality, and the roots of trauma that plague many people. Her tale is one of resilience and opportunity, as her grandmother relocated the family to moved Edmond, OK in the early 90s. After experiencing the stark contrast of both living environments, she became intrigued by the core reasons for differences in community outcomes. Nicole found herself studying sociology and public health and was drawn to understanding the root causes of health disparities. She received her B.A. in Sociology from Cornell University and her Master of Public Health from The George Washington University School of Public Health. Throughout her career in public health, she has focused her work on understanding health disparities and social inequality. Her personal life mission is to drive community and societal change while creating generational shifts in community wellness outcomes.
