Through their presence, Black medical professionals serve as catalysts for change, advocating for improved healthcare policies, fostering trust, providing culturally sensitive care, and ultimately contributing to better health outcomes.
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While there are still no cures for fibroids, PCOS, or endometriosis, the fact that we are having the conversations publicly gives me hope that research will get funded and that partners and families will be understanding. I know these are not easy or enjoyable conversations, but I am glad to see that we are still willing to watch, talk, and ask, because it matters.
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Eliminating fat-phobia and anti-fat bias in healthcare would go a long way in changing the narrative around weight. Loved ones and strangers alike feel the right to shame people in large bodies under the guise of caring for their health. Removing weight from the conversation will create a more inclusive world for all of us.
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On Friday, June 24, 2022, the United States of America set itself back 50 years. In a 5-4 decision, SCOTUS overturned Roe v. Wade, the landmark ruling that established a federal constitutional right to abortion in 1973. I absolutely respect those who oppose abortion and for religious or other reasons would never have one. What I am against is government regulating what a person can choose to do with their body — a government of majority white cisgender men. So, what’s next?
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The last time we spoke, we talked about how healthcare discrimination and the inequitable delivery of healthcare have led to a global pandemic – with a bullseye on already struggling communities of color. Today, I want to talk to you about Black mental health. The goal is not to survive. The goal is to live with mental health acceptance and awareness every day. Or at least, that is what I heard the therapists say (wink, wink).
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I tell this story to give a face to the idea of medical discrimination. I honestly can’t say that the doctors didn’t take me seriously because I was a woman or a Black woman. But I can say that the medical professionals didn’t believe me. I can say that had that nurse not said what she said, I may not have returned. My son could have died. I could’ve died. As bizarre as it sounds, I have had Black women say that medical professionals told them that Black women couldn’t feel pain. Why wouldn’t we be able to feel pain as human beings?
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The concept of the “safer space” is one of the more profound new movements in diversity and equity work. It is powerful because it draws away the fluff of rose-colored viewpoints and initiatives for addressing organizational disparities, and instead it lends itself to grounded and pragmatic attitudes. It forces us to operate in the following truth: Safety cannot be promised, physically or emotionally.
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As my husband and I both go through our fertility journey, I have had a more heightened awareness of the inequities that exist with childbirth and Black women. A recent study found that Black infants are 2.3 times more likely to die in childbirth than white infants. I wasn’t fully aware that the health inequities also extend to the infant. Just imagine the range of feelings experienced by Black women wanting to start a family within a system that is already rigged against us.
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The moment one becomes a Black father, one is now indebted to advocate for the Black woman throughout her journey of becoming a mother. We lean on their wisdom and experiences and provide an intentional effort to grow our knowledge base. To this end, I had a conversation with a few mothers about pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum, recovery, and how we can support them during these times. Here’s what they shared:
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I have witnessed the pandemic bring out some of the worst in people—racism, xenophobia, entitlement, greed, and ultimately “othering”—excluding, shaming, and hurting those in highest need of care, people of color, and those who don’t have the resources to manage, let alone survive, a pandemic like this. To overcome the virus as a nation, as a world, it is imperative that we prioritize health equity and inclusion and utilize our global connectedness for the positive: taking inclusive stances that prioritize the health of all people through our actions, our companies, our communities.
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Years ago, following the death of Philando Castille here in Minnesota, our community and our companies were reeling. Employees reached out to our Diversity and Inclusion team to help them navigate: Where does our organization stand when it comes to black lives? What resources and spaces exist to help me navigate my identity in the workplace?
Read MoreAs Mental Health Awareness Month comes to a wrap, I am overjoyed by continued progress towards bringing mental health to the forefront of issues facing Americans today. Many organizations have taken strides towards reducing stigma, improving inclusivity, and encouraging access to mental healthcare for those in need from within the workplace.
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