Volume 15, Number 3, Winter 2020RACISM: Combating Ways to Eradicate AUTHOR:
Does racism really exist within our field of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology? Are people of color underrepresented in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology? Are students in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology programs experiencing racism? Racism is rampant across America. Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Micheal Brown, Trayvon Martin, Sandra Bland, and George Floyd are African Americans whose lives were unjustly taken. Racism is a concept that is taught and frames individuals mindset to exclusive rights to freedom, enjoyment of certain privileges, and the ability to gain advantages from these rights. Racism within institutions and events seem inexorable from acts of individuals and systems across America and it must be challenged (Vaught & Castagno, 2008). The African Americans who unjustly lost their lives have served as tragic reminders of the ongoing need for us to stand against racism and equality. As members of the American Speech Language Hearing Association (ASHA), it is our responsibility to create awareness of cultural diversity, underrepresentation of people of color within our field, and take a stance on bridging the disproportionate gaps. These are steps that should be taken as measures to combat racism. DOI: DOWNLOAD FULL ARTICLE |