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In this series, we look at whether, how, and to what extent qualitative health research can contribute towards anti-racism and decolonisation. We take a journey through qualitative research, exploring at how theoretical framing, topic, process, results, sharing findings and impact can contribute to the cause of anti-racism.
In this episode:
This episode looks what makes a qualitative health research question anti-racist. Wayne Farah is a co-ordinator of the NHS Confederation BME Leadership Network, has over 20 years’ experience as an NHS Non-Executive Director, and has background as a policy officer and also working in the third sector, with involvement in community organisations and anti-racism campaigns.
Wayne argues that we need to stop framing research questions around prevalence and start directly addressing structural racism in health services. Solely looking at differences in prevalence is race science but not science on racism. We then discuss how qualitative methods are well placed to do this, and think about how research on access to healthcare can better address racism. Finally, Wayne explores how health inequalities research can veer into racial profiling.
Listen now, or on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
References and resources
- Perspectives from the front line: the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on BME communities
- Fields, Karen E. & Fields, Barbara J. (2014) Racecraft:The Soul of Inequality in American Life. Verso Books.
- Adolph Reed’s bibliography
- The Monitoring Group
- Southall Black Sisters
Information about Cartoon Campbell, one of the first young Black men to die in UK mental health services, can be found in the following resources:
- The UK is Not Innocent: the story of INQUEST
- Sivanandan, A. (1981). From resistance to rebellion: Asian and Afro-Caribbean struggles in Britain. Race & Class, 23(2-3), 111-152.