Baltimore City Health Department’s Racial Caucusing Practices Raises Questions
The Baltimore City Health Department (BCDHD) has made headlines for organizing its employees into a “White Caucus” and a “Colored Caucus” under its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives funded by taxpayers.
As reported by the Baltimore Sun’s investigative unit, they found that the department employed external consultants to provide training on racial equity, which included recommendations for these separate caucuses. Documents acquired by local news outlets reveal that the city allocated taxpayer funds to help white staff members confront and acknowledge issues of systemic racism.
From 2022 to 2024, BCDHD reportedly spent around $50,000 on anti-racism workshops run by the People’s Survival and Beyond Research Institute, based in Louisiana. Internal communications describe the consultancy as “the OG radical organizers.”
According to findings published by Spotlight on Maryland, BCDHD’s arrangement with the People’s Institute included participation in monthly “white caucus groups,” which are meant to empower white individuals by fostering awareness, analysis, and strategies to address systemic racism and internalized white supremacy.
Officials indicated that this initiative takes time, emphasizing that it creates a necessary space for white people to reflect on their own complicity in systemic issues, and develop skills to challenge these attitudes. There seems to be some understanding, perhaps, that these spaces prevent burdening people of color with the emotional labor often associated with these discussions.
In reviewing receipts, local news outlets noted that BCDHD spent over $2,000 of public money on meals for a three-day racial equity training session conducted by the People’s Institute in November 2024.
A spokesperson for the People’s Institute defended the concept of these meetings as “places of affinity,” stating that such groups are known to enhance employee engagement and retention. They contend that affinity spaces create a supportive environment where members feel more connected to their colleagues, fostering improved discussion and collaboration within the department.
As the BCDHD continues to navigate these complexities, it remains to be seen how effective these initiatives will be in addressing the deep-rooted issues at hand.
