Lessons on Cultural Competency

by Sariga Santhosh, Development Assistant

February was Black History Month.  On February 26, in addition the conversations happening all over the country to celebrate African American contributions throughout history, I had the opportunity to attend Conversations on African American Culture in King County at the Northwest African American Museum. Co-hosted by the Seattle Office of Emergency Management and the Office of Public Health, this cultural awareness event sought to build community relationships by informing emergency service providers and educators better ways to serve vulnerable populations in the event of a disaster.

The afternoon’s agenda featured lively discussions with panelists from communities in Seattle, who brought different perspectives to the issue of African American race relations. Panel members included a recent high school graduate from Auburn, award-winning poets and authors, and business owners, including the owner of Seattle’s only African American bookstore in Columbia City. The audience shared experiences about growing up in Seattle, culture shock when dealing with the city’s homogeneous white population, prevalence of racism despite the city’s liberal image, and exclusion from important conversations, to name a few stories.

  During the complimentary working lunch, event attendees got the chance to reflect more by answering interesting questions like:

“Why do black teens seem angry?” “

“What are some best practices to teach volunteers cultural competency when dealing with African American clients?”

“Are churches still the best way for emergency service providers to engage with African American communities?”

I learned a few things that day. Despite Seattle’s reputation as a progressive and forward-thinking place, the city’s history with race relations closely mirrors that of the rest of the country. Districts used to be very racially polarized. Communities were built on race and so segregated that the CD (known today as the ‘Central District’) used to stand for the ‘Colored District’ not too long ago. In the 1960s, 90% of Seattle’s population shared European ancestry. Today, that number is down to 80%, indicating some progress in diversity. However, both panelists and audience members still feel that “black is leaving Seattle.”

These days, it’s not institutional racism keeping Seattle’s African American population from better integrating into mainstream society. Gentrification, the rising costs of living, limited awareness of resources, and lack of a community have forced several vulnerable ethnic populations to relocate to areas like Renton and Tacoma. Places for communal gatherings and other safe havens are quickly disappearing. For several ethnic minorities, Seattle remains a “small town in a big city.”

My biggest lesson learned was that community building requires community buy-in. The historical pattern of excluding the African American voice from the important conversations that affect them has resulted in the distrust and fear of using the community resources mobilized to help them. Many African American clients believe their race is a barrier when it comes to navigating the emergency services system. Instead, they turn to community for resources and support. As one panelist noted, “I’ve created my own black world.”

Candid conversations, like ones at this event, are important in repairing broken relationships within communities and building bridges between minority populations and emergency service providers. Before having the conversation about how to deal with clients in an emergency, service providers need to venture out into the community and meet the people they serve. Clients want the same chance as anyone else to go through life without the stigma associated with their social group or culture. It is by making a place at the table for those who were once excluded from it that trust is won back.