‘In Good Times Racism Is A Stressor, In Bad Times Racism Is Trauma’: Three Black Psychologists Talk About The Emotional Toll Of The Election On Black America
‘In Good Times Racism Is A Stressor, In Bad Times Racism Is Trauma’: Three Black Psychologists Talk About The Emotional Toll Of The Election On Black America
The last eight months have been an incredibly trying time for many Black Americans. Members of the Black community have experienced disproportionate severe illness and death related to the coronavirus and have mourned over the recent video recorded killings and shootings of other Blacks.
Unfortunately, the current election has not been a source of hope or reprieve from the ongoing battle that many in the Black community have faced with the virus or with racism. Although the recent killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery have taken a severe mental, emotional, and physical toll on Black Americans, anti-Black racism and the killing of Black bodies has been an ongoing issue in America – rooted as far back as its inception.
Despite being decades removed from Brown vs. The Board of Education and the Jim Crow South, more than four-in-ten Americans feel that the country hasn’t made enough progress toward racial equality, six-in-ten feel that race relations in the U.S. are poor, and over half say that the current administration has worsened race relations.
Specifically, more than eight-in-ten Black American adults feel the legacy of slavery affects the position of Black people in America today and many are concerned about the toll that anti-Black racism is having on the Black community.
One Year of Backspacing Hate
One Year of Backspacing Hate
Nearly half of American adults experience online harassment and nearly one third experience severe harassment, but society still struggles with understanding the deep impact of online hate. Too often, we see “online hate” contrasted with “real world violence.” Trust us: to victims and targets of swatting, doxing, cyberstalking, and cyberharassment, the abuse they experience online is very real.
We know that digital abuse pushes targets offline and silences valuable voices. One year ago, ADL launched Backspace Hate, an initiative supporting victims and targets of online hate and harassment by raising awareness and passing legislation to better hold perpetrators accountable for their harmful actions online. We’re energized by the progress we’ve made but know there is a lot more to do.
In Backspace Hate’s first year, our advocacy led to the passage of Washington’s anti-swatting law and the introduction of anti-swatting and anti-cyberharassment bills in California, Connecticut, Missouri and Maryland. Swatting is the act of falsely reporting an emergency to someone’s home with the goal of having a police unit (usually a SWAT team) deployed to a dwelling.
We know that digital abuse pushes targets offline and silences valuable voices. One year ago, ADL launched Backspace Hate, an initiative supporting victims and targets of online hate and harassment by raising awareness and passing legislation to better hold perpetrators accountable for their harmful actions online. We’re energized by the progress we’ve made but know there is a lot more to do. In Backspace Hate’s first year, our advocacy led to the passage of Washington’s anti-swatting law and the introduction of anti-swatting and anti-cyberharassment bills in California, Connecticut, Missouri and Maryland. Swatting is the act of falsely reporting an emergency to someone’s home with the goal of having a police unit (usually a SWAT team) deployed to a dwelling.
MLS announces programs to combat racism, promote diversity
MLS announces programs to combat racism, promote diversity
Major League Soccer announced a series of initiatives Monday to combat racism, advocate for social justice and increase diversity in the sport.
MLS says the programs came after several months of discussions with key league stakeholders, including a recent meeting between the MLS board and the Black Players For Change, an independent organization of more than 170 MLS players coaches and staff aimed at confronting racial inequality.
MLS Commissioner Don Garber will sit on a new diversity committee consisting of members of the MLS board of governors, representatives of Black Players For Change, club executives, coaches, former MLS players and members of Pitch Black, a resource group of Black employees from the MLS office.
The committee will work with the league to develop a strategy toward diversity, inclusion, opportunity and social justice.
“Major League Soccer is committed to utilizing our wide-ranging platforms to create meaningful programs to address racism and social injustice in society and in the sport of soccer,” Garber said in a statement.
MLS Commissioner Don Garber will sit on a new diversity committee consisting of members of the MLS board of governors, representatives of Black Players For Change, club executives, coaches, former MLS players and members of Pitch Black, a resource group of Black employees from the MLS office. The committee will work with the league to develop a strategy toward diversity, inclusion, opportunity and social justice. “Major League Soccer is committed to utilizing our wide-ranging platforms to create meaningful programs to address racism and social injustice in society and in the sport of soccer,” Garber said in a statement.
How Employee Assistance Programs Can Help Your Whole Company Address Racism at Work
How Employee Assistance Programs Can Help Your Whole Company Address Racism at Work
It may surprise some employers to know that when employees experience racism and/or other forms of discrimination and oppression, one of the places they can turn for help is their Employee Assistance Program or EAP. While EAPs are thought of more often for use by employees for short-term counseling and referrals to help employees manage personal problems so that they don’t interfere with work performance and productivity, it is important to remember that EAPs also provide workplaces with services including organizational assessment, management consultation and strategic crisis prevention and response.
It is precisely because of this mix of individual and organizational level of services that EAPs are in a unique position to help employees work through the trauma of racism and to provide workplace leaders with an invaluable insider view of complex workplace problems, including racism.
As a professor and chair of the only Masters in Social Work (MSW) program with a focus on preparing graduates for careers in the field of Employee Assistance, I have received numerous calls over the past several months from employers asking for advise and consultation regarding how they can work to challenge — and dismantle — their own systems that uphold racist views and policies.
‘Sesame Street’ will air an anti-racism segment for kids and families
‘Sesame Street’ will air an anti-racism segment for kids and families
Sesame Workshop, the non-profit educational organization behind “Sesame Street” will air an anti-racism special called “The Power of We” starting on October 15 on HBO Max and the PBS 24/7 streaming channel.
The special stars famous “Sesame Street” Muppets Elmo and Abby Cadabby, who are joined by 6-year-old Muppet Gabrielle and her cousin, 8-year-old Muppet Tamir. The Muppets learn how to stand up against unfair treatment based on skin — or fur — color.
The Muppet cast is joined by human “Sesame Street” actors alongside celebrity and musical guests “Black-ish” actor Yara Shahidi, “Hamilton” actor Christopher Jackson, and “Rise Up” singer Andra Day.
The special includes two new songs: “How Do You Know?” and “Listen, Act, Unite!” — the latter is written and performed by Jackson and features Day.
A representative for Sesame Workshop said in a press release that the special aims to educate children and families on racism, which it says is an important topic to discuss right now.
“‘Sesame Street’ has the ability to entertain children while explaining complex issues like no other program and equips families and caregivers with the support they need to have empathetic conversations,” the representative said.
The special includes two new songs: “How Do You Know?” and “Listen, Act, Unite!” — the latter is written and performed by Jackson and features Day. A representative for Sesame Workshop said in a press release that the special aims to educate children and families on racism, which it says is an important topic to discuss right now. has the ability to entertain children while explaining complex issues like no other program and equips families and caregivers with the support they need to have empathetic conversations,” the representative said.
Group launches initiative to combat racism, make mosques more inclusive
Group launches initiative to combat racism, make mosques more inclusive
A Chicago-area Islamic group has launched an initiative to help mosques and other Islamic institutions be more inclusive of minorities and women.
The Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago’s new Black Lives Matter Task Force aims to address racism, bigotry and sexist practices within Muslim communities throughout the Chicago area and suburbs.
The umbrella group serves more than 60 member organizations, including mosques and Islamic schools, representing more than 400,000 Muslim Americans of various ethnicities, races and cultures.
Cultural biases and misogynistic practices are antithetical to Islamic values and the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad, said Imam Charles Muhammad, CIOGC board and task force member.
Muhammad said the task force will work with these institutions to promote equity and inclusion, such as appointing more women to governing boards and being more welcoming of Blacks, Latinos and all races.
The Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago’s new Black Lives Matter Task Force aims to address racism, bigotry and sexist practices within Muslim communities throughout the Chicago area and suburbs. The umbrella group serves more than 60 member organizations, including mosques and Islamic schools, representing more than 400,000 Muslim Americans of various ethnicities, races and cultures. Cultural biases and misogynistic practices are antithetical to Islamic values and the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad, said Imam Charles Muhammad, CIOGC board and task force member. Muhammad said the task force will work with these institutions to promote equity and inclusion, such as appointing more women to governing boards and being more welcoming of Blacks, Latinos and all races.
A disrupter, say his partisans, a purposeful provocateur. C’mon, knock it off. You know that’s not what I’m getting at.
A raging narcissist, say his foes, a serial violator of decency and law. No, that’s not where I’m trying to go here, either. Read more…
Justin Bieber Urges Fans to Take a ‘Stand Against Racism’ in Emotional Post
Justin Bieber is taking some time this holiday season to reflect. In a post on Wednesday (Dec. 4), the 25-year-old singer took some time to be thoughtful about things he’s said in the past that may have been hurtful and apologize, urging Beliebers to do the same.
The post, which featured the phrase “Stand Against Racism” is large block letters, featured the message, “When I was young I was uneducated and found myself saying really hurtful things not knowing the power of my words. Racism Is still very prevalent and I want to use my voice to remind we are all human being and all of EQUAL VALUE BEFORE GOD!”
Though Bieber did not specify what hurtful things he said in the past, in 2014 a video surfaced of a then-15-year-old Bieber making offensive, racist jokes and using the n-word in footage reportedly shot during the filming of his 2011 doc Justin Bieber: Never Say Never. At the time, Bieber apologized for the use of the offensive terms, saying in a statement, “As a kid, I didn’t understand the power of certain words and how they can hurt.
Justin Bieber is taking some time this holiday season to reflect. In a post on Wednesday (Dec. 4), the 25-year-old singer took some time to be thoughtful about things he’s said in the past that may have been hurtful and apologize, urging Beliebers to do the same. The post, which featured the phrase “Stand Against Racism” is large block letters, featured the message, “When I was young I was uneducated and found myself saying really hurtful things not knowing the power of my words. Racism Is still very prevalent and I want to use my voice to remind we are all human being and all of EQUAL VALUE BEFORE GOD!” Though Bieber did not specify what hurtful things he said in the past, in 2014 a video surfaced of a then-15-year-old Bieber making offensive, racist jokes and using the n-word in footage reportedly shot during the filming of his 2011 doc Justin Bieber: Never Say Never. At the time, Bieber apologized for the use of the offensive terms, saying in a statement, “As a kid, I didn’t understand the power of certain words and how they can hurt.
How to cure racism in the U.S. healthcare system
How to cure racism in the U.S. healthcare system
There’s no doubt about it: The unequal distribution of health care in the United States is killing many of us.
The chasm of health disparities between minority groups and white people could be a mile wide. Doctors are less likely to refer a black patient for cardiac evaluation when presenting with chest pain than a white patient. Emergency medical services take black and Hispanic patients to different hospitals than white patients, even when they live in the same ZIP code. Overall, black patients receive worse care than white patients by a staggering 40 percent of quality measures.
This is far from a new set of problems. For hundreds of years, white doctors have pushed horrific false narratives about physiological differences between black and white people that served as a warped basis for justifying inhumane treatment of enslaved people. This 19th century “research” has seemingly not been supplanted by more accurate medical knowledge in some cases, and the gap between health outcomes for white people and minority groups has not closed. This raises the question: What is being done about it?
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Here is how you should handle racial discrimination in the workplace
Here is how you should handle racial discrimination in the workplace
While progress has been made with tackling racial discrimination in recent decades, it is clear that it still lives on in the workplace in less overt and more nuanced forms. A survey commissioned by the Trade Union Congress found that over 70 percent of ethnic minority workers say they have experienced racial harassment at work and around 60 percent state that they have been subject to unfair treatment by their employer.
Karen Holden, Founder of A City Law Firm, is keen to outline the laws surrounding racial discrimination in the workplace and exactly what the employers responsibilities are.
First, a definition. Racial discrimination refers to discriminatory behaviours against individuals or groups based on their race, ethnic origin, nationality or skin colour. An example of racial discrimination from an employer is letting someone’s race/skin colour affect their decision of who receives a job, promotion or other employment benefit. No one should be discriminated against and employees are protected by legislation.
