the biology of racism
TRANSCRIPT
The Biological Impacts of RacismBEVERLY A HUTCHERSON
Current Masters Degree Topic
Language
Under-represented/ People of Color ◦ Historically Disenfranchised Groups
Diversity Equity and Inclusion ◦ Racial and Ethnic Social Justice
Do You Want To Eradicate Systemic/ Institutional Racism?
Do you want to live in an equitable society?◦ How much of your belief/ value system are you willing to
shift?
◦ Collective goal: to reduce inequities, improve health and socio-economic outcomes for Black People
Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
◦ -Albert Einstein
Common Theory
Racism
• External Stimuli
Chronic Stress
• Driver
Poorer Health Outcomes
• Results
More Than Just a Cortisol Response
model of stress response and development of allostatic load. Reprinted from McEwen (1998).
Alternate Theory
Racism
• External Stimuli
General Biology/Physiology
• Driver
Poorer Health Outcomes
• Results
Ultimate Goal
Eliminate Racism
• External Stimuli
Return to Biological Homeostasis
• Driver
Better Health Outcomes
• Results
But In Whose Lifetime?
Eliminate Racism
• External Stimuli
Return to Biological Homeostasis
• Driver
Better Health Outcomes
• Results
How Many Generations Will It Take To Reverse The Biological And Physiological Impacts of Racism?
How Many Generations Will It Take To Reverse The Biological And Physiological Impacts of Racism?
Barker Hypothesis: Who Are We Fighting For: Mom, Child and/or Grandchild
Barker Hypothesis
Why Are These Eggs So Critical In Health Outcomes?
EpigeneticsThe study of heritable phenotype changes that do not involve alterations in the DNA sequence.[1]
Any heritable phenotypic change. Such effects on cellular and physiological phenotypic traits may result from external or environmental factors, or be part of normal development. The standard definition of epigenetics requires these alterations to be heritable[3][4] in the progeny of either cells or organisms.
The changes themselves: functionally relevant changes to the genome that do not involve a change in the nucleotide sequence.
Epigenetics
Alerted Endocrine System, Cells and DNAFETAL PROGRAMMING FOLLICLE PROGRAMMING
Alternate Theory
Racism
• External Stimuli
General Biology/Physiology
• Driver
Poorer Health Outcomes
• Results
Ultimate Goal
Eliminate Racism
• External Stimuli
Return to Biological Homeostasis
• Driver
Better Health Outcomes
• Results
If We Are Already Reprogrammed, What Can We Do?Preventive Medicine◦Prolonged
◦Delayed
◦Managed
Multi-Generational Strategies Over ALifetime.
Maternal and Child Health
Multi-Issue Acute
Interventions
Multi-Issue Preventive
Care
Basic/Natural Scientists Clinicians
Social Scientists Public Health
Interdisciplinary Teams
No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it.
◦ -Albert Einstein
Who Designed Academia And For Whom?System created by white men to advance white people?
Would it be reasonable to ask if the very systems/methods we use and define as scholarly are steeped in white supremacy racism?
Do our methods oppress people?
Answer: Look at the conditions of historically disenfranchised groups, after all of these years of research and publications, the evidence is not hidden.◦ If fact we are still build careers exploring these disparities and inequities while
the community outcomes remain relatively unchanged.
Systemic/ Institutional RacismAffecting the body generally
Fundamental to a predominant social, economic, or political practice
Systemic/ Institutional RacismAffecting the body generally
fundamental to a predominant social, economic, or political practice
It is an infectious disease that we have been treating the symptoms of instead of finding the cure.
Treating the symptoms include: creating lots of programs and committees without challenging HOW business is conducted in an organization
Hiring minimal people from historically disenfranchised groups and in roles that do not have autonomy, power, proper budgets etc..
Is This Still Occurring?
The System Is Still Working As It Was Originally Designed To Work
Publications, Career Advancement, Position, Power
White People
Research Recruitment
Black People
Research Participation
Black People
Community Engagement
Black People
PIs, Faculty, Senior Leadership, Fiscal
AffairsWhite People
We Must Question HOWWe Conduct BusinessAcademic Process for solving problems: Write a grant, collect and analyze data, publish, give professional talks.
◦ Who benefits most from this process?
◦ Who benefits the least?
We Must Question HOWWe Conduct BusinessIs data collection a tool of oppression?◦Who is it for?
◦Who benefits most from it?
◦According to whom?
◦Think more deeply about the design of academic funding mechanisms
When An Institution Is Only Operating At ALower Level Of Truth About Systemic Racism
The Infamous Seat At The Table
When An Institution Is Ready To Operate In AHigher Level Of Truth About Systemic Racism
End Academic Slavery/ Indentured ServitudeWhen you see black talent don’t exploit it by:
◦ Consultation without proper compensation
◦ Ask to pick their brain/watered down collaborations
◦ Hiring in roles that are beneath their skill set
◦ Impeding advancement by asking that we be tamed
◦ Instead:
◦ Create space for black leadership
◦ Identify black talent and support them in advancing their credentials, position and power
◦ Ask yourself: are you comfortable having us lead only at certain levels, in certain spaces and on certain topics. Would you trust black leadership to lead you in roles other than diversity and community work?
Thank You– Ancestral Hidden Figures