many to demand action to stop ongoing police profiling, racism
and injustice. But the recent death of George Floyd, as he suffered
under the knee of the Minneapolis police officer, served as the
tipping point for international calls to action. Age-old laws and
policies that promote racism are being reviewed and changed at the
highest levels of government. His brutal death has caused state and
local governments to initiate change in discriminatory practices,
statutes and ordinances that have been around for decades, if not
centuries. Police departments around the country are examining how
they serve and protect their communities. We are hoping they will
become more transparent and engaged with, as opposed to against,
the people they serve. Monuments, statues, paintings and murals of
events or persons that have offended racial or ethnic groups have
been removed from the public eye. Others are being assessed as to
their relevance in 2020.
Mr. Floyd’s death has sparked the protests of millions around the
US and the world who have come together to say that Black Lives
Matter and demand change. Frank discussions have taken place
about race relations in America and the world. This Movement
has resonated across all spectrums with changes taking place in
the military, in corporate policies, sports and entertainment, etc. In
fact, many sports teams now will allow or encourage their players
to kneel during the national anthem, not out of disrespect, but to
show support for the Black Lives Matter Movement. Yet as these
protests, conversations and policy changes have been taking place,
another African American man, Rayshard Brooks, has died, and
his death has been added to the list of suspected deaths by police.
Black Lives Matter also during this COVID-19 pandemic. For
generations, African Americans and other minorities have had less
access to health care, more comorbidities such as heart disease,
diabetes, hypertension, etc., worse or no access to quality food/
nutrition and fewer financial resources. We have lived in poorer
communities and had shorter lifespans than our white counterparts.
Since this public health crisis started, the Centers for Disease
Prevention and Control has shown that these longstanding health
and social inequalities have led to higher infection rates, higher
hospitalization rates and higher death rates among Blacks and other
minorities. Much more needs to be done to prevent and slow the
spread of COVID-19 in all communities through increased access
to testing, real access to health care, education, wearing masks,
social distancing, proper hygiene, hand washing/improved living
environments, etc.
Finally, change is occurring. The momentum must not stop. We
are all in this world together and not just Black Lives Matter. All
Americans should have equal access to health care, jobs, housing,
food, education, due process under the law and equal protection
by those who are sworn to protect us. There is no place for racism
in America. We need to continue the work that has been started
and not let up. As Ghandi said in one of his famous quotes, “The
future depends on what we do in the present.”
Dr. Hargett is in private practice in physical medicine/rehabilitation and is currently
President of the Falls City Medical Society and Secretary of GLMS.
MINDING THE GAPS IN DERMATOLOGIC MEDICAL
EDUCATION AUTHOR Yomna Amer, BA
DOCTORS' LOUNGE
Upon immigrating to the US as a
college freshman, I had no clue
about the expedited growth
and eye-opening experience I
had been given. Growing up in
Egypt, I always thought the US
represented a beacon of democracy
and justice that my homeland
might never see. However, my beliefs were promptly challenged
by my first college roommate, a Black woman who grew up in
Kentucky. She disclosed her experiences of being followed in stores
for no crime other than having darker skin. She recalled the many
times others discredited her attainment of a prestigious scholarship,
one she was offered over thousands of applicants, and attributed her
win to affirmative action policies rather than her merit. Ironically,
white women—who benefit the most from affirmative action—are
its strongest opponents. The more I heard her experiences growing
up as a Black woman in America, the more I sought to learn about
injustices practiced against our most vulnerable communities daily.
Investigating how I might contribute to racist ideologies, I started
reflecting about my heritage, and how that contributes to the racist
ideologies many perpetuate. Attempting to understand the complicated
implications of race and colorism, reflected in my experience
growing up as a “light skinned” female in a North African country,
is still difficult. My “lighter” skin color, a privilege I was unaware I
had growing up, simultaneously constituted a barrier for me upon
moving to Kentucky. Driven to learn more, I explored social justice
locally and internationally in Peru as a Muhammad Ali Scholar. The
conclusion that truly astounds me is the realization that almost every
corner on this planet exhibits forms of implicit and explicit racism
and colorism. The most crucial realization was knowing that as a
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