TED EGE COLLEGE / 11-A
Racism : The Silent Killer
Işılay TORUSDAĞ
84
Did you know that black women are 3 to 4 times more likely to experience a pregnancy-related death than white women , even at similar levels of income and education ? Racism might look like something that humanity left behind but it is still a major problem . From healthcare to education , racism can be found in every aspect of life . Even though it can ’ t be resolved completely there are a few steps that can be taken to lessen its effects .
First of all , taking qualified education is one of the basic human rights . Unfortunately , millions of children experience discrimination at school which interferes with their learning and mental health . One survey found that 55 % of young people from black and British backgrounds , and 57 % of young people from mixed ethnic backgrounds , had experienced racism at school . To eradicate this issue governments , civil society and schools should work together to ensure that human rights education is offered from nursery school onwards and that teaching materials are free from racist content and updated to reflect the diversity and plurality of society .
Another thing is that biases and stereotypes have a serious impact on how doctors treat people of color . This can lead to over- or under-diagnosis of certain conditions , a lack of proper pain management , and increased health risks , even when the economic status is not a factor . In the interest of solving this problem medical schools should require first-year students to take a course on social justice , race and racism , and students should spend time in the communities they serve .
All in all , people of color experience racism almost every day , and there are a few steps that we can be taken to make their lives easier . Hopefully , one day racism would be off our table .