Considerations:

Use images that portray people of different races in a variety of roles—doctors, nurses, patients, etc.

Include representation of multiple races and ethnicities affected by a specific condition or illness.

Include images of different family dynamics in terms of race and ethnicity. Show families that represent people of color and families that consist of mixed identities.

When using the term “Black” in written form to refer to Black people, the “B” should be capitalized. In this context, “Black” refers to a shared ethnic and cultural identity, not a color. Alternatively, there is not a consensus on whether to capitalize the “W” when referring to White people. This is due to the history of white supremacists capitalizing the term to establish dominance. We recommend defaulting to your institution’s style-guide if it is addressed. Otherwise, pay attention to the context in which the term is used and use your best judgement.

Cautions:

Avoid overusing images that portray racial identities only in one context.

For example: every image of a doctor as a white person; every image of a Black or Hispanic/Latino person as having a larger body.

Considerations:

Use adjectives to describe a person's racial or ethnic identity instead of nouns.

• Use "People of Mexican descent" or “Hispanic people” instead of "Mexicans."

• Use "Indian people" or “the Indian Community” instead of "Indians."

Use the term "people/person of color" if generally referring to non-white racial and ethnic identities. Be more specific when appropriate.

Acknowledge systemic factors when appropriate.

Cautions:

Avoid using the term "minority" to describe an individual person. The term is usually numerically inaccurate and implies inferiority. Avoid using antiquated or offensive terms to refer to people's racial and ethnic identities.

• Instead of "foreigners" say "international people."

• Instead of "oriental" say "Asian" or be more specific if possible and use "Korean, Chinese, etc."

Considerations:

Acknowledge overlapping/intersecting identities.

For example, a Hawaiian female adolescent will have a different experience than a Hawaiian male adolescent or white female adolescent.

Cautions:

Avoid assumptions about an individual based on their race or ethnicity.

For example, not all Arab individuals are Muslim, and not all people of Mexican descent speak Spanish.

Considerations:

Acknowledge the experience of institutionalized racism and its effect on health disparities of historically marginalized people.

Consider factors beyond genetic differences that play a part in the health disparities of different racial and ethnic groups.

For example: social, economic & environmental disadvantages stemming from systemic racism.

Cautions:

Do not confuse race and ethnicity with geographic origin.

For example, saying “Sickle Cell Disease is more common in Black people” is incorrect and excludes others affected. More appropriate is "Sickle Cell Disease is more common in people descended from Africa, India, the Middle East, and the Mediterranean." Additionally, not all Black people are descended from these regions, and do not have the same Sickle Cell Disease risk.