The concept of cultural humility is described by physicians Melanie Tervalon and Jann Murray-Garcia as the context under which we evaluate health disparities and institutional inequities.
The process of cultural humility has now taken root in the fields of public health, social work, and education. Not to be confused with “cultural competence,” cultural humility is based on the principles of self-reflection, a commitment to changing power imbalances, and the idea of developing institutional accountability.
In her half-hour, four-part documentary, “Cultural Humility: People, Principles and Practices,” San Francisco State Professor Vivian Chávez interviews Tervalon and Murray-Garcia to examine the stories of people working to develop multicultural community partnerships. The documentary is recommended for anyone versed in the fields of public health, social work, medicine, psychology, prevention, and education.
