10 CONNECTEDNESS
Lessons in Cultural Humility, Racial Capitalism, Racial Colorblindness, Implicit Bias, and Colorism
Abstract
The current sociocultural and political climates in the United States elucidate the importance of understanding what it means to be human in the context of becoming more divided and divisive. As the nation is currently facing two pandemics, one health-related and the other racial, our ability to engage in thoughtful and meaningful discourse on cultural issues remains ever-present. This chapter briefly addresses the impact of racial capitalism, racial colorblindness, implicit bias, and colorism as we attempt to create meaningful change in a time of disarray. It is hoped that readers gain insight into the importance of understanding one’s own cultural location, blind spots, and biases within the context of enhancing our multicultural relationships, both personally and professionally.
Keywords
cultural humility
racial capitalism
racial colorblindness
implicit bias
colorism
cultural competence
citizen therapists
humanity
pandemic
racism pandemic
Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC)
gentrification
dehumanization
Black Lives Matter
posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Ethno-racial trauma
oppression
microaggressions
Color-Blind Racial Ideology (CBRI)
morality
genocide
mass incarceration
Latinx
Cognitive Misers
slavery
About
Miguel E. Gallardo
Psy.D.
Dr. Gallardo is a Professor of Psychology and Director of Aliento, The Center for Latina/o Communities at Pepperdine University. He teaches courses on multicultural and social justice, advocacy, and professional practice issues. Dr. Gallardo is a licensed clinical psychologist and maintains an independent/consultation practice where he conducts therapy, forensic/legal psychological, and neuropsychological screening assessments, and consults with organizations and universities on developing culturally responsive systems.
Dr. Gallardo’s areas of scholarship and research interests include understanding the psychotherapy process when working with ethnocultural communities, particularly Latinx communities and in understanding the processes by which individuals develop cultural awareness and humility. Dr. Gallardo has published refereed journal articles, books, and book chapters in the areas of multicultural psychology, Latinx psychology, ethics and evidence-based practices, cultural humility, and racial colorblindness. He is currently a Series Editor for Cognella Academic Press’ Advances in Culture, Race, and Ethnicity book series. Dr. Gallardo also regularly discusses issues relevant to understanding how we can develop stronger relationships with one another on his Cultural Humility podcast.
Dr. Gallardo is currently Director of Research and Evaluation for the Multiethnic Collaborative of Community Agencies (MECCA), a non-profit organization dedicated to serving monolingual Arab, Farsi, Korean, Vietnamese, Cambodian and Spanish speaking communities. Dr. Gallardo served a 6-year Governor appointed licensed member of the California Board of Psychology. Dr. Gallardo is currently serving a 5-year appointment on the Clergy Misconduct Oversight Board for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Dr. Gallardo is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association.