A BLACK PERSPECTIVE ON RACISM
By: Edward Dixon, J.D.**
Racism is one of those words that many people use, and feel strongly about, but cannot define very clearly. Those who suffer from racism usually interpret the word one way while others interpret it quite differently. This ambiguity is possible in part because the word refers to ideas that are very complicated and hard to pin down. Yet, before we can fully understand how racism words or how to combat its harmful effects we must first try to define it clearly even, though such an attempt may be regarded as wrong by many.
Perhaps the best definition of racism is an operational one. This means that it must be based upon the way people actually behave, rather than upon logical consistency or purely scientific ideas. Therefore, racism may be viewed as any attitude, action, or institutional structure which subordinates a person or group because of his or their color. Specifically, white racism subordinate’s members of any other groups, (e.g. Black, Asia, Hispanic, American Indian), primarily because they are not white in color, even though some are technically considered to be member of the "white race" and even view themselves a "white".
As a matter of further explanation, racism is not just a Racism
matter of attitudes: actions and institutional structures, especially, can also be forms of racism. An "institutional structure" pattern of action or organizational arrangement, whether formal or informal. For example, the residential segregation of almost all Blacks in large cities is an " institution structure".
Just being aware of someone's color or race, or even taking it into account when making decisions or in other behavior, is not necessarily racist. Racism occurs only when these reactions involve some kind of subordination. Thus, pride in one's black heritage, or Irish ancestry, is not necessarily racist.
Racism is the systematic exclusion of a people from societal participation, psychosocial and economic, based on color; using oppression and discrimination to ensure prejudice of people and institutions against those of color, formally and informally, by any means possible.
By Racism we mean the predication of decisions and policies on considerations of race for the purpose of subordinating a racial group and maintaining control over that group. Racism is both overt and covert. It takes two, closely related forms; individual whites acting against individual blacks, and acts by the total white community against the black community . . . . . . . . . Institutional racism relies on the active and pervasive operation of antiblack attitudes and practices. A sense of superior group position prevails: whites are "better than blacks; therefore, blacks should be subordinate to whites. This is a racist attitude and it permeates the society, on both the individual and institutional level, covertly and overtly . . . Institutional racism as another name: colonialism.
The behavior power system of racism as practice by people who classify themselves as white, like any other system, does not seek to destroy itself or to have itself voted out of existence. Rather, it seeks to perpetuate itself by any and all necessary patterns of logic, thought, speech, action, emotional response, and perception in all areas of people activity (economics, education, entertainment, labor, law, politics, religion, sex, and wars).
Racism prosper and persist in this country not because of racial prejudice, as some would have us believe, but, rather because racism and the stimulation of color prejudice in whites and blacks is economically profitable to the proper tied class, while also satisfying the "status" craving of the poor whites.
The behavior resulting from exclusion policy is both individual and institutional racism. This type of racism is the overt or covert collusion of either board, executive, supervisor, or staff in not committing resources to serve those of color, or it may be expressed in discriminatory hiring or training practices Administrative racism is affected by informal as well as formal communication.
Both personal and institutional racism must be seen as key variables related to stressful events in the life of Black people. Several authors, have shown that racism is also a significant factor which influences the delivery of social and health services to the Black community. Moreover, other stressful events, such as family instability, child abuse and neglect, inadequate nutrition, poor physical environment, and inequitable economic participation in the Black community, are clearly linked to race and discrimination in the American society.
Black psychiatrist at their 1969 annual meeting of the American Psychiatric Association declared racism to be the numberone mental health problem in the United States. They further labeled racism as the major cause of all other mental health problems. Thus, using current NIMH statistics, Black psychiatrists have labeled racism as the cause of America's primary health problem and as the major mental health problem.
Racism, the oppression, exclusion and discrimination of Black people on the part of white people and white institutions, infests our whole society and operates as a barrier against the freedom, opportunity, manhood and womanhood of all Black people, whatever their level of achievement or socioeconomic status. It is the most important obstacle to the progress of Black people and the aspect of the American value system which needs most to be changed.
Four possible behavioral responses of nonwhite victims of the white supremacy system of power domination to that victimizing and interiorizing process are as follows:
1. Submission 2. Cooperation 3. Resistance 4. Destruction
Such things as being programmed for failure, loss of racial identity, overt signs of racism, being more qualified than their white superiors, and lack of support are all influenced by and result from, the expectations communicated to the Black professional by organizational members of his role set. Very often these expectations are contradictory and confusing to say the least.
Racism limits the viability of Black families in hundreds of ways. It prevents the newborn child form having an equal chance of being born in a healthy condition, and it severely restricts his opportunities of getting a firstrate education. Even if the child surmounts these obstacles, racism prevents him from having equal access to jobs that maximize his abilities. Even if he gets a good job, it limits his opportunity of getting equal pay with white workers. It increases his chance of dying early, and prevents him from being buried in the cemetery of his choice.
Thus, literally form the cradle to the grave, the Black family is threatened by the specter of racism. It is true, of course, that many families escape the worst features of oppression, it is also true that many families have shown an amazing ability to survive, conform, and achieve in the fact of impossible obstacles. Still, when compared with white families, Black families are systematically assigned inferior status, position and opportunities.
Racism is deeply imbedded within the institutional fabric of American society. All the major institutions including the political, economic, educational, social, and others have systematically excluded Black people in varying degrees form equal participation in the rewards of these institutions. None of them works as effectively in meeting the needs of Black families as they do white families. The keys to the enhancement of Black family and community life are therefore institutional keys. These major institutions of the wider society must be changed so as to more adequately reflect the existence, the needs and the contributions of Black people.
External strategies of reform are aimed at this kind of institutional change. Several elements are necessary. First, the very conception of the purpose of all these institutions must be expanded to include specific recognition of Black people as a substantial element should be changed to incorporate Blacks at every level including policy making, executive, administrative and operational levels, as customers, clients, and constituents on equal footing with white people.
The responsibility for this massive inclusion must rest with the institution themselves, and not with Black people. But to say the white people of power, influence, and privileged must take the initiatives in these areas is by no means to call for unilateral action. We argue instead that these white institutions must make the initial move toward incorporating Black people into themselves, if Black efforts to overcome racism and establish economic viability are to be more successful.
**published The Shreveport Sun; Shreveport Louisiana
EDWARD DIXON, B.S., J.D.
Has had extensive health related experiences and exposure in a broad range of areas, including but not limited to marketing, health law, biomedical research and health related demonstration projects.
He has served as Project Director on three (3) state supported health related grants, (1) The Coalition of African American Denominational Leaders of Louisiana, Inc., Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Project, and (2) Alternative Addiction Treatment Concepts, Inc., Acupuncture/Alpha Theta Neuro Biofeedback Demonstration Grant (3) The Memphis Affiliate of Congress of National Black Churches, Inc.’s Faith-Based Alcohol and Other Drug Education/Access Grant. He spent three (3) years as a research biochemist at the National Institutes of Health. He has taught, Law and Medicine at Loyola University, School of Law (New Orleans) and Southern University School of Law (Baton Rouge): and the Legal Aspects of Health Care Administration at Tulane University, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA and Howard University, School of Business and Public Administration, Washington, D.C..
He has served as lobbyist and Medical Legislative Assistant for the National Medical Association. Served as Health Law Specialist for the National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects in Biomedical and Behavioral Research. His management and administrative experience includes serving as President/CEO of several of his own companies, Health Research Systems and Services Inc.; Alternative Addiction Treatment Concepts, Inc.; and Church Health Services Organization. In addition, he has served as Executive Director of three (3) Legal Services Corporations, and an Economic Development Corporation. His marketing experience includes, sales representative for a pharmaceutical company (Ayerst) and a scientific products company (Matheson Scientific). He has often been invited to speak on health related issues. For many years he has been an advocate and spokesman for faith-based (1) health promotion and disease prevention programs, emphasizing health screens and positive life style change programs (exercise, nutrition and smoking cessation), and (2) mental health and substance abuse prevention, treatment and rehabilitation programs. His faith-based experience includes; (1) eleven (11) years as General Counsel for the National Baptist Convention of America, Inc., and the conventions’ State Convention and (2) fifteen (15) years as member of the Board of Directors of the Congress of National Black Churches (representing the National Baptist Convention of America, Inc.)
Racism is one of those words that many people use, and feel strongly about, but cannot define very clearly. Those who suffer from racism usually interpret the word one way while others interpret it quite differently. This ambiguity is possible in part because the word refers to ideas that are very complicated and hard to pin down. Yet, before we can fully understand how racism words or how to combat its harmful effects we must first try to define it clearly even, though such an attempt may be regarded as wrong by many.
Perhaps the best definition of racism is an operational one. This means that it must be based upon the way people actually behave, rather than upon logical consistency or purely scientific ideas. Therefore, racism may be viewed as any attitude, action, or institutional structure which subordinates a person or group because of his or their color. Specifically, white racism subordinate’s members of any other groups, (e.g. Black, Asia, Hispanic, American Indian), primarily because they are not white in color, even though some are technically considered to be member of the "white race" and even view themselves a "white".
As a matter of further explanation, racism is not just a Racism
matter of attitudes: actions and institutional structures, especially, can also be forms of racism. An "institutional structure" pattern of action or organizational arrangement, whether formal or informal. For example, the residential segregation of almost all Blacks in large cities is an " institution structure".
Just being aware of someone's color or race, or even taking it into account when making decisions or in other behavior, is not necessarily racist. Racism occurs only when these reactions involve some kind of subordination. Thus, pride in one's black heritage, or Irish ancestry, is not necessarily racist.
Racism is the systematic exclusion of a people from societal participation, psychosocial and economic, based on color; using oppression and discrimination to ensure prejudice of people and institutions against those of color, formally and informally, by any means possible.
By Racism we mean the predication of decisions and policies on considerations of race for the purpose of subordinating a racial group and maintaining control over that group. Racism is both overt and covert. It takes two, closely related forms; individual whites acting against individual blacks, and acts by the total white community against the black community . . . . . . . . . Institutional racism relies on the active and pervasive operation of antiblack attitudes and practices. A sense of superior group position prevails: whites are "better than blacks; therefore, blacks should be subordinate to whites. This is a racist attitude and it permeates the society, on both the individual and institutional level, covertly and overtly . . . Institutional racism as another name: colonialism.
The behavior power system of racism as practice by people who classify themselves as white, like any other system, does not seek to destroy itself or to have itself voted out of existence. Rather, it seeks to perpetuate itself by any and all necessary patterns of logic, thought, speech, action, emotional response, and perception in all areas of people activity (economics, education, entertainment, labor, law, politics, religion, sex, and wars).
Racism prosper and persist in this country not because of racial prejudice, as some would have us believe, but, rather because racism and the stimulation of color prejudice in whites and blacks is economically profitable to the proper tied class, while also satisfying the "status" craving of the poor whites.
The behavior resulting from exclusion policy is both individual and institutional racism. This type of racism is the overt or covert collusion of either board, executive, supervisor, or staff in not committing resources to serve those of color, or it may be expressed in discriminatory hiring or training practices Administrative racism is affected by informal as well as formal communication.
Both personal and institutional racism must be seen as key variables related to stressful events in the life of Black people. Several authors, have shown that racism is also a significant factor which influences the delivery of social and health services to the Black community. Moreover, other stressful events, such as family instability, child abuse and neglect, inadequate nutrition, poor physical environment, and inequitable economic participation in the Black community, are clearly linked to race and discrimination in the American society.
Black psychiatrist at their 1969 annual meeting of the American Psychiatric Association declared racism to be the numberone mental health problem in the United States. They further labeled racism as the major cause of all other mental health problems. Thus, using current NIMH statistics, Black psychiatrists have labeled racism as the cause of America's primary health problem and as the major mental health problem.
Racism, the oppression, exclusion and discrimination of Black people on the part of white people and white institutions, infests our whole society and operates as a barrier against the freedom, opportunity, manhood and womanhood of all Black people, whatever their level of achievement or socioeconomic status. It is the most important obstacle to the progress of Black people and the aspect of the American value system which needs most to be changed.
Four possible behavioral responses of nonwhite victims of the white supremacy system of power domination to that victimizing and interiorizing process are as follows:
1. Submission 2. Cooperation 3. Resistance 4. Destruction
Such things as being programmed for failure, loss of racial identity, overt signs of racism, being more qualified than their white superiors, and lack of support are all influenced by and result from, the expectations communicated to the Black professional by organizational members of his role set. Very often these expectations are contradictory and confusing to say the least.
Racism limits the viability of Black families in hundreds of ways. It prevents the newborn child form having an equal chance of being born in a healthy condition, and it severely restricts his opportunities of getting a firstrate education. Even if the child surmounts these obstacles, racism prevents him from having equal access to jobs that maximize his abilities. Even if he gets a good job, it limits his opportunity of getting equal pay with white workers. It increases his chance of dying early, and prevents him from being buried in the cemetery of his choice.
Thus, literally form the cradle to the grave, the Black family is threatened by the specter of racism. It is true, of course, that many families escape the worst features of oppression, it is also true that many families have shown an amazing ability to survive, conform, and achieve in the fact of impossible obstacles. Still, when compared with white families, Black families are systematically assigned inferior status, position and opportunities.
Racism is deeply imbedded within the institutional fabric of American society. All the major institutions including the political, economic, educational, social, and others have systematically excluded Black people in varying degrees form equal participation in the rewards of these institutions. None of them works as effectively in meeting the needs of Black families as they do white families. The keys to the enhancement of Black family and community life are therefore institutional keys. These major institutions of the wider society must be changed so as to more adequately reflect the existence, the needs and the contributions of Black people.
External strategies of reform are aimed at this kind of institutional change. Several elements are necessary. First, the very conception of the purpose of all these institutions must be expanded to include specific recognition of Black people as a substantial element should be changed to incorporate Blacks at every level including policy making, executive, administrative and operational levels, as customers, clients, and constituents on equal footing with white people.
The responsibility for this massive inclusion must rest with the institution themselves, and not with Black people. But to say the white people of power, influence, and privileged must take the initiatives in these areas is by no means to call for unilateral action. We argue instead that these white institutions must make the initial move toward incorporating Black people into themselves, if Black efforts to overcome racism and establish economic viability are to be more successful.
**published The Shreveport Sun; Shreveport Louisiana
EDWARD DIXON, B.S., J.D.
Has had extensive health related experiences and exposure in a broad range of areas, including but not limited to marketing, health law, biomedical research and health related demonstration projects.
He has served as Project Director on three (3) state supported health related grants, (1) The Coalition of African American Denominational Leaders of Louisiana, Inc., Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Project, and (2) Alternative Addiction Treatment Concepts, Inc., Acupuncture/Alpha Theta Neuro Biofeedback Demonstration Grant (3) The Memphis Affiliate of Congress of National Black Churches, Inc.’s Faith-Based Alcohol and Other Drug Education/Access Grant. He spent three (3) years as a research biochemist at the National Institutes of Health. He has taught, Law and Medicine at Loyola University, School of Law (New Orleans) and Southern University School of Law (Baton Rouge): and the Legal Aspects of Health Care Administration at Tulane University, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA and Howard University, School of Business and Public Administration, Washington, D.C..
He has served as lobbyist and Medical Legislative Assistant for the National Medical Association. Served as Health Law Specialist for the National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects in Biomedical and Behavioral Research. His management and administrative experience includes serving as President/CEO of several of his own companies, Health Research Systems and Services Inc.; Alternative Addiction Treatment Concepts, Inc.; and Church Health Services Organization. In addition, he has served as Executive Director of three (3) Legal Services Corporations, and an Economic Development Corporation. His marketing experience includes, sales representative for a pharmaceutical company (Ayerst) and a scientific products company (Matheson Scientific). He has often been invited to speak on health related issues. For many years he has been an advocate and spokesman for faith-based (1) health promotion and disease prevention programs, emphasizing health screens and positive life style change programs (exercise, nutrition and smoking cessation), and (2) mental health and substance abuse prevention, treatment and rehabilitation programs. His faith-based experience includes; (1) eleven (11) years as General Counsel for the National Baptist Convention of America, Inc., and the conventions’ State Convention and (2) fifteen (15) years as member of the Board of Directors of the Congress of National Black Churches (representing the National Baptist Convention of America, Inc.)
