A Thematic Analysis of the Structural Racism Navigated by Community Based Organization Employees

Many Community Based Organizations (CBOs) serve Black birthing clients who are facing health or economic hardships rooted in structural racism. However, less is known about how structural racism impacts the lives and missions of employees within CBOs. The purpose of this paper is to explore the systems level effect of structural racism on the day-to-day lived experiences of CBO employees' as they strive to achieve their goals. A thematic analysis was done of secondary data interviewing CBO employees about their experiences serving Black birthing clients. Data was collected in 2024 and resulted in 14 interviews collected of CBO leaders and frontline workers. We found 4 themes: (1) CBOs Spending Time Aiding Clientele in Overcoming Barriers and Violence, (2) CBOs Navigating Funding in White Institutional Space (3) Myths Allowing Structural Racism to Perpetuate (4) Emotional Toll of Structural Racism on CBO employees. These themes demonstrate how dynamics of structural racism are continually navigated by CBO employees in their day to day lived experiences, taking a toll on their emotional well-being, and causing harm to both them and their clients.