Lehigh University prof argues that the field of public health sustains ‘White supremacy’
A Lehigh University sociology professor believes that the field of public health sustains White supremacy.
She called on leading public health bodies to create expectations 'around anti-racism education for students & practitioners.'
A Lehigh University professor is alleging that the field of public health supports White supremacy.
Lehigh University sociology and anthropology professor Sirry Alang — who recently co-published a paper entitled “White Supremacy and the Core Functions of Public Health” — wrote on Twitter that public health institutions “need to engage with the reparations movement, rather than continuing to build endowments and wealth from stolen land, labor, breathes, and from genocides.”
Public health institutions and organizations need to engage with the reparations movement, rather than continuing to build endowments and wealth from stolen land, labor, breathes, and from genocides.
— Sirry is exhausted Alang, PhD (she/her) (@ProfAlang) April 8, 2021
Alang stated that public health “sustains #whitesupremacy” because “white frames dominate teaching, research & practice.”
The field & discipline of public health sustains #whitesupremacy in many ways: white frames dominate teaching, research & practice. In 2017, 0.2% tenured faculty in SPHs were Native American, 3.8% Black, 7.4% Latinx. There’s constant exploitation of community partners, etc.
— Sirry is exhausted Alang, PhD (she/her) (@ProfAlang) April 8, 2021
She also suggested that the Council on Education for Public Health and the Public Health Accreditation Board set expectations “around anti-racism education for students & practitioners with clear measurable goals for which someone is held ACCOUNTABLE!!”
CEPH & PHAB should set clear expectations for schools of public health & PH organizations around anti-racism education for students & practitioners with clear measurable goals for which someone is held ACCOUNTABLE!!
— Sirry is exhausted Alang, PhD (she/her) (@ProfAlang) April 8, 2021
“We must extend our professional responsibilities to include advocacy for policies articulated by anti-racist activist organizations, and leading/enforcing regulatory frameworks to dismantle white supremacy,” she added.
We must extend our professional responsibilities to include advocacy for policies articulated by anti-racist activist organizations, and leading/enforcing regulatory frameworks to dismantle white supremacy. We provide examples in the article.
— Sirry is exhausted Alang, PhD (she/her) (@ProfAlang) April 8, 2021
Alang concluded that those in the public health field “must educate the public & policy-makers on manifestations of white supremacy.”
We in public health must educate the public & policy-makers on manifestations of white supremacy. But we must first know this ourselves. Right now we don’t. Our curricula is bad!! So take a good look at our curricula.
— Sirry is exhausted Alang, PhD (she/her) (@ProfAlang) April 8, 2021
When contacted by Campus Reform, Alang declined to comment.
Follow the author of this article on Twitter: @ajmunguia23
