Duke University School of Medicine:White supremacist culture“We expect people of color to be on time in our strategic plan to create an anti-racist workforce.”
In its 2021 plan, “Dismantling Racism and Promoting Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in the School of Medicine,” the School of Medicine said its goal was to “promote anti-racist practices through education.” The guide, praised by the dean, detailed punctuality, dress code, speech and work style, and condemned what it deemed “white supremacist culture.” It also included a series of negative terms for white culture.
“White supremacy culture is the idea (ideology) that white people and their ideas, thoughts, beliefs, and actions are superior to people of color and their ideas, thoughts, beliefs, and actions,” the document states.
The document states that America was created for the benefit of white people, who are entitled to privileges – “a set of advantages, rights, benefits and options that are given to them, unquestioned and without effort, simply because they are white.”
“CRT scholars point out that the social construction of race and racism is a normal part of American society. It is embedded in structures such as law, culture, and the economy and supports white interests,” the guide says in its definition of critical race theory.
He further argued that white supremacy culture is a “monopoly of power” that disadvantages non-whites.
“In the workplace, a culture of white supremacy explicitly and implicitly favors white people and discriminates against non-Western and non-white professional standards of dress code, language, work style, and punctuality,” the document states. “Characteristics of this culture include perfectionism, a belief that there is only one right way to do things, monopoly on power, individualism, a sense of urgency, and defensiveness.”
Dean Dr. Mary E. Klotman praised the guide for reflecting the medical school’s “goals, priorities and strategies.”
“Our plan to eliminate racism and advance equity, diversity and inclusion was developed with the need for intentional and appropriate flexibility,” she said. “As you read this plan, I ask you to consider actions you can take as individuals, teams and local units to support our shared goals. Each of you will play a critical role in advancing our mission to eliminate racism and advance equity, diversity and inclusion at Duke University and beyond.”
The school outlined a plan to create an “anti-racist workforce,” and part of that mission included establishing a hiring pipeline at historically black universities and community colleges.
Another part of the document argued that white people have a “vulnerability.”
The term “white fragility” was coined by Robin DiAngelo in her 2018 book, White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism.
DiAngelo argues that many white people do not fully understand racism as a systemic problem and often react defensively when their racial privilege or unconscious bias is highlighted.
The school describes white fragility as “the discomfort that white people experience when witnessing or participating in discussions about racial inequality and injustice.”
Supporters of anti-racist causes are individuals who “recognize their privilege and are willing to work with oppressed groups in the struggle for justice.”
When the topic of racism comes up, white people may develop a “range of defensive behaviours, emotions and attitudes, including anger, fear and silence”, according to the guide.
“At Duke University School of Medicine, we believe that equity, diversity and inclusion are core components of institutional excellence,” the university said. The website has“We are committed to cultivating and living a culture of inclusion where faculty, staff and students from underrepresented backgrounds experience a true sense of value, empowerment and belonging.”
Fox News Digital reached out to Duke University School of Medicine for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
Some DEI and racial equity advocates embrace the idea that professionalism is racially biased.
According to an article published in Stanford Social Innovation Review“Timeliness” is a product of capitalism, “a professionalism that…values productivity over people, emphasizes time commitments, linear accomplishment of tasks, and often privileges white, Western individuals.”
UCLA Law Review article, Published in 2023calls professionalism a “racial concept.”
“The standards themselves are based on a set of beliefs founded on racial subordination and white supremacy. Through this analysis, it becomes clear that professionalism is a racial construct,” the article states.
And in 2020, the National Museum of African American History and Culture explained how being white is associated with “deferral of desires,” “objective, rational, linear thinking,” “cause and effect,” and “decision-making.”
The dean said this reflects the “goals, priorities and strategies” of Duke University School of Medicine.
