Understanding and shifting the mindsets that reinforce structural racism
We can imagine the world we want to live in, supported by systems and structures to ensure that no matter what we look like, where we live, or what’s in our wallets, our neighborhoods are safe, our public schools inspire imagination, and everyone’s children and families can live healthy, fulfilling lives. But how do we get from where we are to where we want to be? A key element of shifting conditions, addressing structural racism, and making health and racial justice a reality, is changing the stories we tell ourselves about ourselves — the narratives that justify and perpetuate policies and systems that uphold inequities.
The default narrative in the U.S. centers rugged individualism: The idea that you can succeed at anything if you try hard enough. That’s a powerful motivator, but it encompasses a darker side: that if you fail, it is your own fault. This default narrative is especially pernicious because it upholds the myth that racism is only about interpersonal behaviors — obscuring the truth of structural racism and its harm.
Berkeley Media Studies Group is excited to be part of a Consortium of practitioners across multiple disciplines working to understand, address, and shift mindsets that are reinforcing structural racism — a barrier to health equity — so we can achieve equitable health and well-being. As part of this Consortium, BMSG looks forward to the opportunity to identify opportunities for narrative change to advance health and racial equity; respond to emergent communication and strategy needs related to addressing structural racism; and build narrative power toward a healthier, more equitable future.
Support for this Consortium is provided by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the Foundation.