‘Together we can dismantle structural racism’

This column aims to tell the many stories of the inequality and injustice faced by people from different racial minority groups with a focus on health and social care.

The death of George Floyd in the US and his dying words of "I can’t breathe" has created a new dawn for understanding, dismantling and eliminating racial prejudice.

I hope in the coming months to tell the stories that will make readers consider how structural and everyday racism and injustices affect the lives of people belonging to racial minority groups.

Racism and injustices are not new to society. My mother-in-law died aged 94 on 22 January 2021. She was a retired school teacher and relayed the challenges of what she recognised as racism in the classroom towards children of racial minority heritage, and how difficult it was for her and some of her colleagues to redress the balance due to structures that limited their efforts for equality.

Professor Carol Baxter, on her retirement said to me that this job on racial equality is not done and it is up to people like yourself to continue on the foundation I built. Telling a story is one part of the process, from the stories we need to listen for the silences, as Professor Laura Serrant urges, in her Silences Framework.

These are not always easy tasks because one of the facets of structural racism is that if you don’t tell the story in the way of the dominant culture, it risks being muted.

In telling the story to fit the mould of the dominant race and culture, you can be silenced, and it is then up to the reader to listen and seek out the silence, for example, why is there no racial minority representation on senior boards?

A good listener, listens for the facts and seeks out emotions and values of the silenced. Listening to this silence is important, and so when racism whispers in your ear, you need to listen carefully.

"We need to be prepared to make decisions that may sit uncomfortably with colleagues, managers and organisations"

What does a whisper sound like? It can be the way someone is treated, spoken to or about and the emphasis placed on that individual because of the colour of their skin. It can also be an action as some actions can exclude, devalue and belittle people of racial minority.

What happens after listening? Action is the next step, and we need to be prepared to make decisions that may sit uncomfortably with colleagues, managers and organisations. But if these decisions work towards the greater good of eliminating racism, then there is worth in your action.

The Covid-19 pandemic has seen many organisations moving to online operations, and unless you are online, you may miss the visibility of racial minority groups, and this may further push such groups to the margins of organisations, workplaces and society.

In the last year we have seen how organisations have done little to reduce and eliminate structural racism. With less opportunity to meet in person and have conversations that lead to raising issues pertinent to individual and organisation’s success, we need to pay closer attention to being inclusive of others in the online environment.

In an attempt to stay connected with employees, some organisations are having online morning coffee drop in sessions. If you are attending these, I urge you to listen to the silence and whispers.

Join me in listening and telling the stories, which are the lived experience of racism and social injustices in nursing. Together we can dismantle structural racism and all its intersections in nursing, which can only serve to further the profession positively.

Calvin Moorley is associate professor for nursing research and diversity in care, School of Health and Social Care/Adult Nursing & Midwifery Studies, London South Bank University