Structural Racism
Maine AAP Statement on Racism:
The Maine Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics supports the nationwide movement to end racism. We recognize the structural racism embedded within our society, which results in racial inequities in health, access to health care, education, employment, law enforcement, and judicial matters.
The Maine AAP opposes racism and acknowledges its impact on health.
The Maine AAP recognizes that racism and discrimination impact the physical, mental and behavioral health of children of all ages, and that as pediatricians and as health care leaders, we must change institutions and cultural bias that fosters racism and racial injustice.
The Chapter commits to ending racial inequities and injustices that impact not only child health but also the well being of our communities.
We support our members to work at the practice, local, state, and federal levels, to end racism and encourage our members to join us in ending racial disparities that impact the health and wellness of Maine’s children, families and communities.
AAP Diversity and Inclusion Statement
AAP Policy Statement: The Impact of Racism on Child and Adolescent Health
AAP Perspective: Race-Based Medicine
Words Matter: AAP Guidance on inclusive, unbiased language
Mental Health Resources:
44 Mental Health Resources for Black People Trying to Survive in This Country
Anti-Racism Resources for Social Workers and Therapists
How to Support Black Employees
Why Black Joy Matters, and Is a Form of Resistance, Too
Resources for Talking to Children about Racism:
AAP Addresses Racism and Its Health Impact on Children and Teens
Affirming Black Lives Without Inducing Trauma
How to talk to your children about protests and racism
How White Parents Can Talk to Their Kids About Race
Talking to Children about Racial Bias
Talking to White Kids About Race & Racism
Teaching Children Cultural and Racial Pride
Ten Tips for Teaching and Talking to Kids About Race
The Traumatic Impact of Racism and Discrimination on Young People and How to Talk About It
Your 5 Year-Old is Already Racially Biased
Resources for Combatting Racism in Medicine:
Black Fatigue: How Racism Erodes the Mind, Body, and Spirit by Mary-Frances Winters
Color Code: STAT's podcast raising the alarm on racial inequities in American health care by Nicolas St. Fleur.
EthnoMed: The EthnoMed site contains information about cultural beliefs, medical issues, and other related issues pertinent to the health care of recent immigrants
JAMA: Structural Racism and Pediatric Health — A Call for Research
Medical Bondage: Race, Gender, and the Origins of American Gynecology by Deirdre Cooper Owens
My Grandmother's Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies by Resmaa Menakem
The Impact of Racism on Children’s Health
Additional Resources:
21 Day Racial Equity Challenge
LA Times: Coronavirus kills Black people at twice the rate as white people
Pediatrics Perspectives: Police, Equity, and Child Health
STAT: To understand who’s dying of COVID-19, look to social factors like race more than preexisting diseases
TED Talk: How racial bias works — and how to disrupt it