In the not-too-distant past, the landscape of American higher education, particularly in the South, was blighted by the spiteful thorns of segregation. The journey from a world of entrenched racial divides to one where diversity and inclusion are more than just buzzwords has been fraught with challenge and change. Nowhere is this transformation more telling than in the history of Southern schools of pharmacy, which provides poignant insights into the nation’s struggle with race and equity.
The American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education (AJPE) recently published a compelling article (DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpe.2024.100648), shedding light on the painstaking process of desegregation at these institutions. It reveals a narrative that is both a reflection of a dark past and a beacon for the ongoing efforts towards true diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). The authors, Christian A. Brown, Gregory Bond, Carla White, and Benjamin Y. Urick, dive into the heart of the matter, with the School of Pharmacy at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill serving as a case in point.
It wasn’t until the 1970s that many schools of pharmacy in the South saw their first Black graduates—a marker of progress, certainly, yet one that speaks volumes about the reluctance with which desegregation was approached. Amidst protest, struggle, and lawsuits, the wheels of change ground slowly forward.
The inadvertent admission of William Wicker to the University of North Carolina in 1962 marked an unintended, yet pivotal, moment in desegregation history. Alongside the stories of Mona (Boston) Reddick and James Barnes, Wicker’s experience is not just a historical footnote; it’s a vivid embodiment of the persistent grip of segregation and the indomitable spirit of those who fought against it.
Despite the historical proximity of these events—just one or two generations remote—DEI efforts in pharmacy education continue to grapple with their impact. The narratives of these pioneers enrich our understanding and forcefully push to the forefront the iniquitous effects of structural racism within the profession.
The paper’s findings highlight how the pharmacy sector, much like higher education as a whole, is only beginning to scratch the surface of true inclusivity. DEI initiatives often risk being relegated to mere ceremonial gestures without the necessary engagement and introspection that stories like those of Wicker, Reddick, and Barnes insist upon. Their personal struggles and triumphs present critical lessons for institutions and individuals alike, as they seek not just to desegregate but to create environments that are genuinely inclusive.
The article is a stark reminder of the recentness of formal segregation. The fact that many contemporary minority pharmacists are merely one generation removed from a time when they would have been denied education on the basis of their skin color is both sobering and illuminating.
Engagement with these oral histories and the lived experiences they contain is crucial for formulating sensitive and effective DEI policies and curriculum changes within pharmacy education. This is not only a matter of rectifying past wrongs but is also essential for ensuring that the pharmacists of today and tomorrow can cater to a diverse society with empathy, understanding, and cultural competence.
Importantly, the AJPE article also serves as a call to action. Merely recognizing the importance of diversity is insufficient. Schools and institutions must embrace these histories, learn from them, and allow them to inform present-day actions aimed at forging a more equitable future.
As these efforts continue, the importance of publications like AJPE becomes clear. By providing a platform for discussing these issues within the context of pharmaceutical education, they help ensure that the lessons of the past are not lost but rather integrated into the journey toward a more inclusive profession.
Keywords
1. Diversity and Inclusion Pharmacy Education
2. History of Pharmacy School Desegregation
3. Racial Segregation in Higher Education
4. DEI Initiatives in Pharmacy
5. Black Pharmacists Historical Impact
References
Brown, C. A., Bond, G., White, C., & Urick, B. Y. (2024). From Desegregation and Integration to Diversity and Inclusion: The Environment was Just Ice. American journal of pharmaceutical education, 100648. DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpe.2024.100648
Pharmacy’s progress: The road to DEI in U.S. pharmacy education and the legacy of segregation. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education. (Publisher information)
Facilitating DEI in the pharmacy curriculum: Challenges and opportunities. Journal of the American Pharmacists Association.
Impact of historical segregation on the current state of pharmacy education. Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved.
From segregated past to inclusive future: Social justice and pharmacy education. American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy.
