Running head: LITERATURE REVIEW 1

Literature Review:

Racism at UTEP

Sophia R. Hernandez

University of Texas at El Paso

RWS 1302

Dr. Vierra

3/31/2018
LITERATURE REVIEW 2

Literature Review:

Racism at UTEP

Introduction

Racism in both the nursing program and around campus has bettered to an extent over

time. Racism in nursing may not be aware to many people, but through this research is shown to

be more common than possibly expected.

This topic will be answered using four research questions.

1. What is racism?

2. How does racism affect team work amongst nurses?

3. Where else can racism be found around campus?

4. How is racism being managed?

What is racism

Racism has been around for a lengthy amount of time. Racial discrimination was seen

way back when slavery was as extremely cruel as it was common; as we fast forward into current

times we still see racial prejudice that is presented through some acts as well as being seen or

more so heard through the slip of racial slurs. Although racism remains with a beating heart, it

has bettered to an extent over time. Racism is the mistreatment of an individual based off an

individual’s culture, beliefs, ethnic background, or simply off the color of their skin.

Buckley (1968), claimed that racism involved any negative actions that were brought to

or affiliated with a single person due to the color of their skin. Buckley acknowledged that

racism could be affiliated with many things, demonstrating how one of the ways could be

through riots and overall complete chaos. Buckley’s claim is the center to the rest of this research

and ties into the other authors that have been chosen in one way or another.
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Mack (1963) claims that a minority is an individual capable of being distinguished by

physical or cultural characteristics and based off these characteristics is treated a certain way.

Mack notes that since minorities act different from other individuals, they can be distinguished

from the rest of society. Mack’s claim ties into Buckley’s over the way someone is treated based

off of certain aspects of an individual.

Rose (1948) claims that everyone is in a minority, however, certain groups are hated by

most other people and we concentrate our attention to them as well as label them minorities.

Rose observed that many of who we mark as “minorities” have been in the United States longer

than the “majority” and yet are still hated. Rose connects this hatred with religious, racial or

national backgrounds. Rose’s claims strongly ties into that of Mack and Buckley’s.

Racism affecting teamwork

The obvious issue that underlies this particular question is the team work that can be

affected through racism. This can be either be through nurse and coworker, and/or through nurse

and patient; it can be agreed upon that both partnerships require some teamwork in one way or

another. Racism posed an obvious problem between nurses that no one was willing to admit, it

was as though it went along being unspoken. Teamwork between patient and nurse has also been

affected by racial discrimination.

An example of racism affecting teamwork between nurse and patient can be seen through

“ A Shocking Case of Racial Discrimination In A Hospital”. Couric (2013) conducts an

interview with Battle who argues of racial discrimination in a hospital where she works at. Battle

noted that she was told she was not allowed to care for a newborn baby under the fathers wishes

and this request was allowed by the hospital. Battle based this claim off a note that was left on

the baby’s chart specifically saying that no African American nurses were allowed to care for the
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baby. This claim ties into both Mack and Buckley’s claims on how racism can be demonstrated

in various ways.

Robinson (2014) conducted a study in the state of California that included the feelings of

nursing professors at various ranks in regards to racism in the field. This study included the

participation of strictly Black nurses and their feelings on the issue. The response to the question

of how racism made an individual feel resulted in responses such as it “manifests feelings of not

being valued in an individuals professional role, not being taken serious, and a lack of

opportunities for advancement” (2014, paragraph). Results of this study showed about equal

numbers of few Black nurses having feelings of either anxiousness or depression. The majority

of Black nurses who participated reported they had feelings of being angry over the issue.

Through this we are able to get a feel for the energy that may be felt at a workplace according to

these responses which could possibly lead to it affecting teamwork between colleagues.

Stone (2013) talked about how racism is a difficult topic to deal with let alone talk about.

Her writing included many inserts from nurses in the profession that had personal experiences

with racism through their work. There are times when even silence alone says all it needs to.

“The look” is referred to colleagues expressions that hold an extremely negative presence in

them. An individual does not need to be spoken to a certain way to know when someone is not

too fond of them.

Racism found in other parts of campus

Nursing is only one of the many places that racism can be found in unfortunately. Some

places in and around campus have reported other issues involving racism. The issues surrounding

racism in these areas seemed to be a hassle to try to resolve.

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Seltzer (1975) claims that racism towards Blacks and Chicanos is extremely common

even though about 50 percent of the community is Chicano. talked of a group of individuals who

formed as a result of racist remarks at a student senate meeting in late October of that year.

Students claimed that members of the senate were caught making hateful remarks towards

certain individuals of the community. “Dirty Mexicans” and “Niggers” where some of the few

discriminatory words said by people who held a high rank in the senate. Racism was not only

directed to Chicanos or Blacks, but towards Anglos as well.

Racism management

Racism use to be handled in a taboo sense. Ignoring the problem seemed to be the best

alternative in “fixing” the problem. Many community members, regardless of the difficulty

faced, still continued to fight for what they believed was right no matter how hopeless it seemed

to get. However considering racism is not nearly as common as it use to be or reported for that

matter, goes to show something must be helping the issue.

As previously mentioned, Seltzer (1975) referred to a group who formed in regards to

racist senate members. This group became known as the Student Coalition Against Racism or

SCAR. Members of this group started and participated in many protests that resulted in actions

that showed any “racist attitudes” towards other individuals on campus. They believed those who

held positions in the senate should be cited for their prejudice actions. The members of this group

sought out to band and “oppose of racism wherever it existed on campus” as well as “expose

racism at all levels of the university”. SCAR members had a number of complaints, one that also

included that the senate was becoming more and more ineffective as a result of the racism taking

place as well. SCAR, although mindful of who exactly in the senate was affiliated with certain

racial remarks, chose not to single out and oppose those individuals as it would only “serve to
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perpetuate this racism” (1975, pg.8). SCAR members had hoped to see those individuals kicked

out of the senate. Administration however, refused to merely listen to the group and instead

wanted to be presented with factual evidence. Robinson (2014) noted in her study that racism

continues to emerge. Although it Is not as common, as many can agree it is not yet dead. Though

the article about the SCAR members was done a while back, it still holds to show the issue in

somewhat recent years and there is no doubt we are somewhat faced with these issues in even

recent times.

Conclusion

Racism will more than likely continue to remain a problem, but the hope for the control

of it is not lost. The sad truth about this is people often deal with their problems a variety

of ways and no one’s problem solving methods are the same. One nurse may choose to

deal with it in such a way that they choose to block it out and another nurse can choose to

allow it to affect their working environment.

In addition to there being other places where racism was found, there are also a number

of ways the issue had tried to be resolved. The mindset of every individual is never going

to be altered to thing or act the same as the next person which makes us all unique in our

own way. With the knowledge and acceptance of this we have to be wary that the odds of

the issue being resolved are little to none.

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References

Buckley, A. M. (1968). Racism. North Mankato, Minnesota: ABDO Publishing Company.

A shocking case of racial discrimination in a hospital. Couric, K. (Director). (2013, March

6).[Video/DVD] Youtube: Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwtl93lJyHM

Mack, R. W. (1963). Race, class, and power. United States: American Book Company.

Robinson, O. V. (2014). Characteristics of racism and the health consequences experienced by black

nursing faculty. ABNF Journal, 25(4), 110-115. Retrieved from http://0-

search.ebscohost.com.lib.utep.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=98943160&site=eds-
live&scope=site

Rose, A. &. R., C. (1948). Amrerica divided. Canada: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.

Seltzer, R. (1975, november 7). Campus group charges. The Prospector, pp. 1-8. Retrieved from
https://theprospector.newspaperarchive.com/el-paso-prospector/1975-11-07/

Seltzer, R. (1975, ). For the record. The Prospector, pp. 2. doi:November 21, 1975 Retrieved from
https://theprospector.newspaperarchive.com/el-paso-prospector/1975-11-21/page-2/

Stone, T. E., & Comfort, A. (2013). “There comes a time when silence is betrayal”: Racism and
nursing. Nursing & Health Sciences, 15(4), 407-409. doi:10.1111/nhs.12100