August 2020 Spotlight on Anti-Racism

CNMA is working towards becoming an antiracist organization. In 2019 new bylaws were approved that recognize CNMA’s responsibility to actively address racism and the resulting health inequalities suffered by communities of color. Importantly, we must actively support efforts to increase racial diversity in our profession while engaging actively in self-education. “Spotlight on Antiracism” is a new section of the newsletter where you will find a monthly educational offering. We encourage our membership to check it out and share widely in your workplaces.

This month we start with a classic, White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack, by Peggy McIntosh. In an excerpt from McIntosh’s 1988 paper "White Privilege and Male Privilege: A Personal Account of Coming To See Correspondences through Work in Women's Studies", the essay lays out clearly how white privilege manifests in the daily lives of white Americans. It’s a short read! We encourage our white membership to take a look and discuss it with your white colleagues. We challenge you to consider the following statement, just as McIntosh does in her essay: “Describing white privilege makes one newly accountable... having described it, what will I do to lessen or end it?" What will you do to lessen or end white privilege?