Never Say Never: Having White Supremacy Behaviors — A Healthcare Professional’s Surprising Take on Racism
Megrette Fletcher M.Ed., RDN, CDCES
While it isn’t a joke, death has a funny way of waking a person up. The murder of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Atatiana Jefferson, Aura Rosser, Stephon Clark, and so many more have made it clear the level of injustice that Black and Brown people are experiencing in the United States. In response to these and as many more injustices, the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) community has created hundreds of excellent learning opportunities for White Americans. It is easy to imagine the grips of racism are loosening.
As a dietitian and diabetes care and education professional, I am reminded every day that change doesn’t happen fast. Old habits, even when we are shocked, scared, or angry isn’t enough to really change. Change is complex. We can’t simply break a habit like racism even if we want to do so. We have to untangle it. We have to unravel anti-black culture which is entangled in our daily lives in ways we can’t even imagine, or should I say, in ways I couldn’t even imagine.
I have never seen or identified myself as having white supremacy behaviors. I didn’t understand how they contribute to Anti-blackness culture, which is tied to fatphobia and health inequity in diabetes care. The following six behaviors were shared during a workshop by the Abolitionist Teaching Network and reflect the work of Kenneth Jones and Tema Okun.
- Urgency
- Perfectionism
- ‘Either/Or’ thinking
- Individualism
- Fear of open conflict
- Right to comfort
I read these six behaviors and realized how much racism and anti-black culture is hurting me, my kids, my clients, and my profession.
Let’s be clear, these six behaviors if spoken of in polite society could help everyone be more human. As a diabetes care and education specialist, I see these beliefs play out over and over again. They are entwined in healthcare and they impact everyone, Black, White, Fat, Queer, Men, Women, young, and old. You, the person reading this article, are likely dealing with White Supremacy Behaviors right now!
These behaviors live within the four I’s of oppression and are part of everyday life for someone with diabetes.
- Ideological — The belief that people with diabetes are ‘different’ or ‘others’. They aren’t like the rest of society. They need ‘special’ food or are different than you.
- Institutional — How are people with diabetes represented in the media? Are they lazy, fat, weak, or deserving of a chronic disease?
- Interpersonal — The idea that not having diabetes makes you ‘better’ than someone with diabetes. Many people are unaware they are dealing with oppression because they have internalized these negative messages about diabetes and consider their attitudes towards people with diabetes quite normal. It is ‘okay’ to ‘hate on’ them.
- Internalized — Oppression is by far the most painful aspect of persecution because it means the oppressor doesn’t have to exert any more pressure on someone with diabetes, they will do it themselves! They will start a conversation with a fat, food, or blood sugar joke. They will tell me they are wrong, bad, or sorry even before we have finished introductions. When people with diabetes feel bad about themselves we have to ask why? It it because of the healthcare system is reinforcing the internalized oppression? Does the person with diabetes have the power to direct those feelings back towards their healthcare provider without it impacting their diabetes care? If you said no, then you are starting to see how internalized oppression is impacting diabetes care.
In the world of healthcare, individuals with diabetes are already overwhelmed by the disease so it must be healthcare professionals who take on the tasks of dismantling the oppressive systems which fuel the four I’s of oppression. Hearing this you may argue:
- It won’t be fast. (Urgency)
- It won’t be about something you did. (Individualism)
- It won’t be simple. (Either/Or Thinking)
- It won’t be perfect. (Perfectionism)
- It won’t always be comfortable. (Right to Comfort)
- It likely will ruffle some feathers. (Which is difficult because we often fear open conflict)
But these are needed! Those in power, those with the ability to influence policy, and those currently following the existing ‘rules’ within healthcare have a chance to learn from the Anti-Racist community, disrupt the existing systems, and change ‘the rules’ to be inclusive. Not because it is hip, cool, or fashionable, but because in doing so we will improve the care and lives of people with diabetes.
