Examining Anti-Blackness in Nursing: A Deeper Look at Health Disparities

In the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement, healthcare organizations have been reflecting on their role in health inequalities. The American Nurses Association, for instance, formed the National Commission to Address Racism in Nursing and published a report revealing the historic mistreatment and exclusion of Black nurses. But is racism the only issue here? Some argue that a deeper problem exists—a kind of "anti-blackness" that permeates healthcare knowledge itself. What does this mean? Well, anti-blackness isn't just about racism; it's about seeing Black people as less than human. It's a global issue, and it shows up in different ways in different places.So, how does this connect to nursing? Nurses who want to understand the Black experience better need to look beyond just health factors. They need to consider the social, political, and economic influences that shape health—something called social determinants of health. That's where anti-blackness comes in. It's a tool to help nurses dive deeper into these issues. Understanding anti-blackness isn't about feeling guilty or replacing one problem with another. It's about acknowledging the unique challenges Black people face and working to change that. After all, healthcare should be about helping everyone, not just some. It's a big task, but nurses have always been at the forefront of making healthcare better. This is just the next step.