Perspective Transformation on Structural Racism: Learning to See Racism

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Understanding how different groups experience the transformation of perspective can help advance efforts to promote health equity.

A new article published in a special JPHMP supplement, Public Health Interventions to Address Health Disparities Associated with Structural Racism, highlights a concept known as perspective transformation. Perspective transformation centers on “the idea that once a person knows, thinks[s], and believe in something different, they will make different decisions, behave differently, and take different action. The article examines how participants in a health equity initiative in Greater Cleveland, Ohio, experienced a shift in perspective on structural racism. The initiative, known as the Health Improvement Partnership-Cuyahoga (HIP-Cuyahoga), makes perspective transformation an explicit part of its work to eliminate structural racism.

The article aims to “show public health advocates, in a clear and convincing manner, the deeply ingrained realities of structural racism, the origins and consequences of these realities, and their deleterious impact on the health and well-being of people. individuals, communities and the nation as a whole ”and“ introduce new terms, concepts and frameworks to leaders and health professionals; clarify action steps and best practices; and assess the impact of these efforts.

Four key enablers

Researchers have found that when health equity actors experience a shift in perspective regarding racial understanding and attitudes, it is often as a result of the experience of at least one, but usually a combination. of the following:

Witness the impact of racism on others, Learn about racism, Personal experience of racism, Be uncomfortable and / or see others become uncomfortable when discussing racism and its effects

Watching racism unfold with our own eyes, as we have seen in graphic videos of the deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbrey and others, evokes empathy and compassion. Education and training increase awareness of the impacts of racism. The personal experience is felt much more deeply and is generally experienced more often by Black people and other people of color. These are the three main catalysts for perspective transformation, but the study’s authors found another important catalyst that involves “feeling uncomfortable in conversations about race and racism.” The study found that 60% of white participants in the health equity initiative said that having difficult conversations about race that caused them to struggle with their thoughts and feelings helped them change their outlook.

As one white participant remarked: “That’s the point. Like, you have to struggle. At some point you stop wrestling and take action, but you have to have the wrestling period. “

Four main results

The study found that the transformation of perspective resulted in changes in participants’ understanding and willingness to act on their own, in the following ways:

They had new terms, concepts and frameworks for understanding and talking about racism; they were forced to move the conversation forward in a substantial way; they felt energized and motivated to face racism and its impact; and they wanted to find other travelers on a journey of perspective transformation.

Witnessing the impact of racism firsthand, learning about the history of racial discrimination, and talking to people of color about their personal experiences, although it can be difficult and even uncomfortable, can lead to new understanding and equip everyone, blacks and whites, with new skills to move conversations forward in ways that contribute to change that results in social justice and health equity for all Americans.

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