As a person in recovery I face a daily dilemma.  Perusing through my collection of daily meditation books I recoil thinking I might be poisoning my mind with written words from the perspective of the dominant cultural who are authors who know nothing of my struggle as an African American in recovery and I despise the trite euphuism tossed out my many people in Twelve Step groups that “Terminal Uniqueness” ails me and nothing more since Twelve Step fellowships are impervious to racism and discrimination.

I am labeled an infidel for lacking faith in the power and simplicity of the hallowed Twelve Steps since the spiritual principles broach all cultural and racial barriers.  I, like many other blacks or people of color once believed this is true but now I feel my struggle is very unique from those of white/European people with privilege and skin equity in society.

Culturally relevant Piece

The author proposes a book be designed to bring the cultural uniqueness of People of color to the forefront and validate their reality and at the same time not enable People of Color to practice addictive behavior.  Many researchers in the field of addiction and recovery have observed that treatment programs and supports groups must be culturally pertinent to be effective.

Therefore the wealth of literature published by Twelve Step groups and other recovery resources reflect experiences of the dominant culture and presents a quandary for blacks and minorities.  For by ingesting the voice of the dominant discourse blacks run the risk of re-infecting themselves with a sense of inferiority society constantly reinforces.

Disparity of People of Color in Twelve Step Recovery is due part to the misconception that race is an outside issue and due in part to the unconscious power dominance and addiction of the dominant culture. 

From my observation those in dominance own most of the power base in twelve step organizations founded in the United States and never are burden to submerge their skin privilege or skin equity when it comes to dolling out charitable funds to people in the throes of addictive diseases instead rationalize prejudice in “color blindness since race doesn’t matter in Twelve Steps.”

Invariably donations solicited from members of these self support groups ends up in the hands of the dominant groups more often than in the hands of blacks or people of color who are the primary sufferers of addictions at least in the United States since those currently in power discriminate unconsciously.

These actions result in a lack of outreach to blacks and Hispanics and thus a segregated organization that is grossly underrepresented by people of color.