Thread by @TamaraSurin

I don’t usually do this but... @JAMA_current had a 16 minute podcast on Structural Racism so of course I took a listen out of curiosity. It was SO disappointing. I actually sat there shocked that they thought it was a good idea to air this episode. 1/n

The host starts off saying that he didn’t understand the concept, especially since racism was deemed “illegal” in the 1960s. The guest gave an acceptable definition of structural racism and examples, to which the host responded the term racism is hurting us.

He said he isn’t racist - he grew up “anti-racist” since he was told to never think of someone’s race when evaluating them. He questions structural racism and says it’s rather a socioeconomic phenomenon that makes it hard..

For people to get out of “their place,” and it’s not their race or color, it’s their environment. The host finishes out the podcast with once again saying the term structural racism is not a good term. Acknowledges there are certain neighborhoods with..

A larger number of Blacks/Hispanics but “they aren’t there bc they aren’t allowed to buy houses..or they can’t get a job bc they are black/Hispanic that would be illegal.” Calls it “disproportionality”and asks to take the term racism out of the convo.

As (I thought) most of us knew, there are different types of racism. Unfortunately the host focused on interpersonal racism, and used his belief that he doesn’t have that to conclude that structural racism isn’t a thing particularly bc of the Civil Rights Act

Did he address the long-standing discriminatory policies and inequity we have in housing, education, employment, healthcare, politics, and criminal justice? Of course not. And this was an editor at JAMA.

Some days I’m hopeful that this country can make some true progress in regards to anti-racism and achieving equity and others days I’m like 🤦🏾‍♀️ /END

Ok 1 more. There’s SO many experts out there to listen to instead. Grateful for podcasts like @CPSolvers Anti-Racism series and experts like @DMohottige @Dr_KeishaGibson @DrCrystalCene @gradydoctor @UREssien @uche_blackstock @oni_blackstock @gcsmd @EbonyJHilton_MD @LashNolen