We’ve all heard about cultural competence in clinical practice. And while it’s important, it’s also not enough.
So today, Thema Bryant-Davis, PhD will get into some first steps in becoming an antiracist practitioner.
What are your biggest takeaways from what you just heard? Please let us know by leaving a comment below.
Thank you for this constructive reminder how, in all facets of life, those of us with certain privileges (always and, more acutely, at different moments) can work to better support those who are systemically marginalized feel validated and supported and not dismissed – particularly in the most vulnerable of relationships. Committing to being anti-racist is an always active awareness and approach that begins with accepting that racism IS systemic; listening and taking in the individual’s experience, and; requires affirmation – not downplaying or dismissing that person’s experience – even if the intention is to comfort them. Feeling a need to say “I’m not racist” (even with the best of intentions and even silently to oneself) makes it about the self and not the person in front of us. It reroutes the conversation away from them with a defensive non sequitur.
Thank you again.
Great clip. Being vulnerable and work through issues takes courage and humility…and readiness for the challenge…
Oh my gosh, thank you!
I am not a practitioner, but I am actively involved in anti-racism, and one thing that has been different for the past couple of years is that for the first time in my 50 years of life, I am not having the experience of being constantly gas-lighted by all, or almost all, non-brown-skinned people around race issues.
I have also been leading a men’s group, where we are listening to bell hooks on audible and discussing feminism in light of our beliefs, experiences, and values, and trying to figure out how to grow, as men away from blindly accepting the misogyny that is ubiquitous in society.
One result is that on a closed forum for sober people (I’m sober 25 years) the discussion of sexual predators in ‘support groups’ came up.
I noticed that one woman, a survivor, was fearlessly making a case, which was being minimized, dismissed, and/or gas-lighted by others.
I posted a (rather long comment) about how society is absolutely fine with sexual assault against women and children, which I backed up with evidence. I pointed out how those societal issues would obviously be introduced into our support system, and that if we claim to be there to help people who need to get sober, we need to be on the lookout for and be ready to address predation, including when it isn’t illegal, but simply immoral.
I then went on to say that I certainly wouldn’t end up agreeing with every single thing the woman might say, but that for purposes of this thread, I have her back, that her comments have consistently hit the nail on the head and that people should stop arguing and start listening.
She sent me a message thanking me and letting me know that my comment made her cry. It is powerful to find an ally who is part of the opressing group.
I read a good deal of posts that are interesting
here. You spend a whole lot of time writing, Thanks for sharing!
Best regards,
Abildgaard Schneider
I appreciate this video so much. We watched this as part of a class in my Master’s OT program at St. Kates in St. Paul, MN. In general I have taken in some education about anti-racism, but not from a practitioner perspective as much. I understand how the overall health-care system takes part in systemic racism and I hope to not contribute to that in anyway when I am in practice. I really like the idea of validating a patient’s experiences of not being heard, or dismissed due to prejudice. We know this happens much more to ethnic minorities and I think it’s important to take a step back and ask about a person’s previous experiences with health care workers, ask how they understand their condition/illness/disability, etc. and what they know about themselves and what works for them. This is good practice for all patient interaction, but especially as part of the way to practicing cultural humility to me.
Thank you for this talk.
Good measure of awareness when looking for a therapist as well as a great interview question!!! “What are your thoughts about the impact on racism/white supremacy on mental health?”
Such great examples that Dr. Bryant-Davis used! Being able to link how someone feels in other situations to how someone might feel that has experiences racism was very helpful. The healing that can happen when we receive affirmation from the offending party, even If we were not the perpetrator, but just have a similarity to the perpetrating party, was also encouraging to hear. Thank you for this video, I found it to be inspiring and enlightening.
Thank you for this video, Dr. Bryant-Davis. I liked the example you provided regarding intention vs impact and why it is impact that matters. Also, I had not yet heard the term cultural humility and I appreciate the opportunity to learn it.
Thank you — very good things to be aware of and I am so glad we are having these conversations.
That was validating!
A recent conversation with two colleagues at work raised the issue that a white person cannot truly understand what it feels like to have the subjective experience of racism. I have attended Cultural Competence training and information sessions and I cannot remember being asked the question “what would it feel like to have the experience of being racially vilified?” I continue to feel disappointed when people keep making the statement “All Lives Matter”, in response to the “Black Lives Matter” campaign. Of course all lives matter, however, this campaign is about anti-racism.
So how does one look at a person in a wheelchair? I know averting eyes is harmful, but what is in between that and staring as a walking person passes a person in a wheelchair?
I liked the example at the end, comparing the effectiveness of a male therapist affirming to a woman the wrongness of rape to that of a white therapist affirming the wrongness of racism to a black patient. Citizen to citizen, the white person would be told that antiracist talk is not enough; you need do something.
In response to your question: Perhaps in the same way we’d look at someone with mobility similar to ours. We’d catch their eye as we pass each other. Maybe a small but warm smile. Something that says: “Hi. I see you.” Maybe take note if other’s are noticing (vs staring). It’s the same with people who are houseless. Just quick eye contact. See. Each other. It reminds us both of how connected we actually are.