RIAPP’s Anti-Racism Mission
At RIAPP, we believe that meaningful psychoanalytic work must be grounded in a commitment to anti-racism and social justice. As long as we live within a system of oppression and racism, we will be in a state of crisis. We continue to witness the unjust and disproportionate deaths of and violence against BIPOC individuals and communities. We see the devastating impacts of violence, incarceration, denied fiscal and educational opportunities, misrepresentation in the media, and lack of access to adequate healthcare services. We have all been subjected to and shaped by a society that marginalizes and dehumanizes others. Our mission is to raise, and not silence, the voices of those oppressed by racism, classism, misogyny, queerphobia, and transphobia.
We acknowledge that psychoanalytic theory was created in the context of white heteronormative ideology. We seek to use the tools of psychoanalysis to broaden perspective and provide spaces that are generative and healing for all. We value education and awareness, and intense introspection. We believe that sitting with personal and collective pain is a psychoanalytic value, and that when lives are at stake, an imperative.
As we enter our 2025-2026 season, we reflect on the work RIAPP has done and the work we continue to do. Beginning in the summer of 2020 RIAPP made a commitment to more active engagement in anti-racism work. Since then, we have taken actions including:
Development of a peer consultation group to explore racism's impact on our clinical work, increase awareness of our own racism and biases, and improve our ability to utilize clinical interventions and practices to dismantle racism and support racial justice.
Coordination of at least two events per season that highlight black and brown voices in the field.
Integration of anti-racism readings and resources into our regularly disseminated emails.
Implementation of a new fee structure that provides free membership and event registration to those who choose it to recognize the long history of marginalization of underrepresented groups and eliminate financial barriers to psychoanalytic spaces.
Active communication with all speakers about our values, goals, and expectations in the events we host as an anti-racist organization.
Reading of “How to be an Anti-Racist” and discussion among the board and programming committee about how we can implement these lessons and values in our personal, professional, and organizational work.
As we look ahead, we remain committed to thinking critically about how we can actively weave in anti-racism work through our season. Our work in this area is ongoing and our dedication is steadfast.
Please reach out if you have thoughts, ideas, or insights. We are more powerful when we work together.