Science must overcome its racist legacy

• Published in: Nature (London) Vol. 606; no. 7913; pp. 225 - 227
• Main Authors: Nobles, Melissa, Womack, Chad, Wonkam, Ambroise, Wathuti, Elizabeth
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group 09.06.2022
• Subjects: African Americans; Apartheid; Best practice; Black people; Civilization; Diaspora; Genetic engineering; Leadership; Native peoples; Private sector; Race; Racism; Reconciliation; Science; Scientists; Slavery; White people; Women; North Carolina; United States > US
• ISSN: 0028-0836; 1476-4687
• DOI: 10.1038/d41586-022-01527-z

Science and racism share a history because scientists, science's institutions and influential supporters of science either directly or indirectly supported core racist beliefs: the idea that race is a determinant of human traits and capacities (such as the ability to build civilizations); and the idea that racial differences make white people superior. [...]our aim is to showcase some of the many examples of successful scientists who are Black, Indigenous and People of Colour, to highlight best practices and 'lift-up' programmes, and to feature initiatives that empower full participation and scientific leadership of African, Indigenous and diasporic communities around the world. Content will seek to understand the systemic nature of racism in science - including the institutions of academia, government, the private sector and the culture of science - that can lead either to an illusion of colour blindness (beneath which unconscious bias occurs) or to deliberate practices that are defiantly in opposition to inclusion. By 1950, the consensus among scientific leaders was that race is a social construct and not a biological phenomenon.