The Pumerantz Library condemns racism, which the American Medical Association has recently recognized as a public health threat.

The Pumerantz Library has compiled numerous resources on this guide that highlight the history and complexity of racism and other inequities in the United States and its healthcare system. Understanding is the first step to productive dialogue as we work toward a humanistic healthcare system that respects the dignity of all people.

We welcome suggestions from everyone. To suggest a purchase, please use this form. If you have other comments or suggestions on this topic, please email libidea@westernu.edu.

First, we need to define some key terms:

Diversity refers to the variety of group experiences that result from the social structure of society. Diversity is a broad concept that includes differences in society’s opportunities, the shaping of social institutions by different social factors, the formation of group and individual identity, and the processes of social change. This includes race, class, gender, age, nationality, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, language, and region residence, among others. Adapted from: Andersen, Margaret, and Howard Taylor. Sociology: Understanding a Diverse Society. 4th ed. Belmont, CA: Thomas Wadsworth, 2008. 11. Print. Courtesy of Texas A&M University

Equity takes differences into account to ensure a fair process and, ultimately a fair or equitable outcome. Equity recognizes that some groups were and are disadvantaged in accessing educational and employment opportunities and are underrepresented or marginalized in many organizations and institutions. The effects of that exclusion often linger systematically within organizational policies, practices, and procedures. Courtesy of State College of Florida

Inclusion means an environment in which all individuals are treated fairly and respectfully; are valued for their distinctive skills, experiences, and perspectives; have equal access to resources and opportunities; and can contribute fully to the organization’s success. Courtesy of State College of Florida

Implicit biases are judgments and behaviors that are generally influenced by stereotypic social portrayals of different social groups or individuals or favorable or unfavorable past experiences. Courtesy of Texas A&M University

Racism is prejudice plus power; anyone of any race can have/exhibit racial prejudice, but in North America, white people have the institutional power, therefore Racism is a systematized discrimination or antagonism directed against people of color based on the belief that whiteness is superior. It is insidious, systemic, devastating, and integral to understanding both the history of the United States and the everyday experiences of people of color in the U.S. Courtesy of Simmons University

Justice is the systematic fair treatment of people of all races that results in equitable opportunities and outcomes for everyone. Courtesy of Simmons University

Privilege is power and advantages benefiting a group derived from the historical oppression and exploitation of other groups. 2.Prviliege can also be defined as uUnearned access to resources only readily available to some people as a result of their group membership. Source: Parvis, L. (2013). Understanding Cultural Diversity in Today's Complex World (5th ed., p. 169). Embrace Publications; Adams, M., Bell, L., & Griffin, P. (1997). Teaching for Diversity and Social Justice (1st ed.). New York: Routledge. Courtesy of Texas A&M University

Intersectionality is a legal and sociological theory that promotes the understanding that individuals have multiple identity factors and are "shaped by the interactions and intersections of these different social [identity factors] (e.g., race, ethnicity, Indigeneity, gender, class, sexuality, geography, age, (dis)ability, migration status, religion, etc.)" [from Intersectionality 101]. This means that inequities do not result from the social devaluing of a single identity factor in isolation, but rather from the intersections of different parts of an individual's identity, power relations, and experience. Courtesy of Simmons University

BIPOC is an acronym for Black, Indigenous, People of Color