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Race and race relations: Be curious, not furious
Racism has been around for a very long time, and we still have a long way to go to eradicate it, in all of its forms. Racism can be subtle, such as not offering employment to a fully qualified candidate or lowering your level of care because of the color of a person’s skin. Also, you never know if the future will place you in the same position as that of the person you are discriminating against or excluding. Diversity through the mixture of cultures and races is what provides a richness to our communities and our country.
No matter what race we may be, we all are human and deserve to be treated and respected as such. The patient you misunderstood, feared, or dismissed could be the same person who helps you become a better physician. For instance, one of my teenage patients of Chinese descent confessed one day that she was feeling depressed, sometimes to the point of suicidal ideation. However, she was adamant that I not report this condition to her parents. From her, I learned that mental illness, such as depression, are taboo subjects in Asian cultures. This information enabled me to be more sensitive with handling this patient’s condition and treatment.
In many cities across America, people have been protesting the recent tragic death of Mr. George Floyd, an African American man killed by a white police officer. In the past few months, unfortunately, we have seen similar cases of racist acts against African Americans. Sadly, this is nothing new.
There are examples of racist acts against other racial groups as well. Since the coronavirus pandemic became global news, Asian Americans have faced a wave of intense xenophobia in the United States. Be mindful that one race suffering injustice in one country could themselves be racist against another group given the opportunity. An example of this was reported in an April 16, 2020, article in the Los Angeles Times. The events took place in Guangzhou, China. The article reported that Africans living there were harassed, targeted, and evicted from their homes in the port city following the positive COVID-19 tests of five Nigerians. Instead of imposing quarantine based on contact history, China’s response has been based on race amid the coronavirus crisis. Stories like this remind us that racism is not just black and white, but can occur by any dominant culture against the minority. To be clear, not everyone is a racist.
Fear of the unknown causes misunderstanding and weakens the relationship between a pediatrician and the patient. Instead, let us “be curious and not furious.”1 We may look different on the outside, but inside we are all human, with feelings, desires, and dreams. An example of being misunderstood is commonly observed as others stereotype African American populations. For example, an African American mother may be described as rude, loud, and disrespectful by those in your office. Such labeling fails to take the time necessary to understand the other’s perspective, and it dismisses her. Why might she be acting this way? What false assumptions are you making? How would you react if you were frequently disrespected or dismissed? How would you react if you had to worry about being physically harmed? Your visage could appear to be angry or guarded – not exactly welcoming or pleasant. It is much easier to quickly dismiss such a patient and not be sincerely interested in what she or her child’s medical needs may be. Such a disposition only results in frustrating outcomes and the destruction of trust between a patient and the provider.
Although I encounter racism daily in my work, I strive to put aside those violations as I treat my patients and interact with their parents. The decision to be inquisitive and empathetic is a conscious one, which can disarm strangers, allowing for trust to be built. It can engender a smile as well.
Teachers frequently refer parents to us when their children are having learning or behavioral difficulties in school. One challenging case for me involved a Latino boy with learning difficulties. The mother, who does not speak English, had been struggling with getting help for her son. I decided to attend a meeting for the patient’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP) at his school (an IEP is a requirement of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA). My presence at the meeting, given that I am also fluent in Spanish, provided a bridge in communication between the parent and the teachers. Moreover, my presence persuaded the patient’s teachers to be more aggressive in designing an individualized plan to truly help my patient. Latino and African American students commonly suffer from disparities in health and education. In my own practice, I also work toward improving disparities within Latino and African American communities through medical education initiatives. There is so much we, as pediatricians, can do to advocate for these communities.
The absence of empathy leading to the killing of Mr. Floyd admittedly is not the same as what generates an inadequate IEP or the desire to avoid a “loud” parent. Even so, any lack of empathy lowers the quality of patient care. It takes conscious effort to be open to helping someone you do not innately understand. Quality pediatric care cannot happen where racism and misunderstanding exist between a patient and provider. Until we truly stop being selfish, the issue of racism will continue to resurface. One impactful way the majority population can help people of color is by not being a bystander to injustice. Inaction makes you an accomplice to the racist act. We must be brave – “be curious, not furious.” Remember that an injustice to one culture eventually becomes an injustice against us all. Being open to what is different, new, or not well known is how a culture becomes richer and even better.
Dr. Mba Wright is a primary care pediatrician practicing in Sacramento, Calif., for more than 14 years. She has no relevant financial disclosures. Email her at pdnews@mdedge.com.
Reference
1. “Going the Distance: Finding and Keeping Lifelong Love” (New York, N.Y.: Doubleday, 1991).
Racism has been around for a very long time, and we still have a long way to go to eradicate it, in all of its forms. Racism can be subtle, such as not offering employment to a fully qualified candidate or lowering your level of care because of the color of a person’s skin. Also, you never know if the future will place you in the same position as that of the person you are discriminating against or excluding. Diversity through the mixture of cultures and races is what provides a richness to our communities and our country.
No matter what race we may be, we all are human and deserve to be treated and respected as such. The patient you misunderstood, feared, or dismissed could be the same person who helps you become a better physician. For instance, one of my teenage patients of Chinese descent confessed one day that she was feeling depressed, sometimes to the point of suicidal ideation. However, she was adamant that I not report this condition to her parents. From her, I learned that mental illness, such as depression, are taboo subjects in Asian cultures. This information enabled me to be more sensitive with handling this patient’s condition and treatment.
In many cities across America, people have been protesting the recent tragic death of Mr. George Floyd, an African American man killed by a white police officer. In the past few months, unfortunately, we have seen similar cases of racist acts against African Americans. Sadly, this is nothing new.
There are examples of racist acts against other racial groups as well. Since the coronavirus pandemic became global news, Asian Americans have faced a wave of intense xenophobia in the United States. Be mindful that one race suffering injustice in one country could themselves be racist against another group given the opportunity. An example of this was reported in an April 16, 2020, article in the Los Angeles Times. The events took place in Guangzhou, China. The article reported that Africans living there were harassed, targeted, and evicted from their homes in the port city following the positive COVID-19 tests of five Nigerians. Instead of imposing quarantine based on contact history, China’s response has been based on race amid the coronavirus crisis. Stories like this remind us that racism is not just black and white, but can occur by any dominant culture against the minority. To be clear, not everyone is a racist.
Fear of the unknown causes misunderstanding and weakens the relationship between a pediatrician and the patient. Instead, let us “be curious and not furious.”1 We may look different on the outside, but inside we are all human, with feelings, desires, and dreams. An example of being misunderstood is commonly observed as others stereotype African American populations. For example, an African American mother may be described as rude, loud, and disrespectful by those in your office. Such labeling fails to take the time necessary to understand the other’s perspective, and it dismisses her. Why might she be acting this way? What false assumptions are you making? How would you react if you were frequently disrespected or dismissed? How would you react if you had to worry about being physically harmed? Your visage could appear to be angry or guarded – not exactly welcoming or pleasant. It is much easier to quickly dismiss such a patient and not be sincerely interested in what she or her child’s medical needs may be. Such a disposition only results in frustrating outcomes and the destruction of trust between a patient and the provider.
Although I encounter racism daily in my work, I strive to put aside those violations as I treat my patients and interact with their parents. The decision to be inquisitive and empathetic is a conscious one, which can disarm strangers, allowing for trust to be built. It can engender a smile as well.
Teachers frequently refer parents to us when their children are having learning or behavioral difficulties in school. One challenging case for me involved a Latino boy with learning difficulties. The mother, who does not speak English, had been struggling with getting help for her son. I decided to attend a meeting for the patient’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP) at his school (an IEP is a requirement of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA). My presence at the meeting, given that I am also fluent in Spanish, provided a bridge in communication between the parent and the teachers. Moreover, my presence persuaded the patient’s teachers to be more aggressive in designing an individualized plan to truly help my patient. Latino and African American students commonly suffer from disparities in health and education. In my own practice, I also work toward improving disparities within Latino and African American communities through medical education initiatives. There is so much we, as pediatricians, can do to advocate for these communities.
The absence of empathy leading to the killing of Mr. Floyd admittedly is not the same as what generates an inadequate IEP or the desire to avoid a “loud” parent. Even so, any lack of empathy lowers the quality of patient care. It takes conscious effort to be open to helping someone you do not innately understand. Quality pediatric care cannot happen where racism and misunderstanding exist between a patient and provider. Until we truly stop being selfish, the issue of racism will continue to resurface. One impactful way the majority population can help people of color is by not being a bystander to injustice. Inaction makes you an accomplice to the racist act. We must be brave – “be curious, not furious.” Remember that an injustice to one culture eventually becomes an injustice against us all. Being open to what is different, new, or not well known is how a culture becomes richer and even better.
Dr. Mba Wright is a primary care pediatrician practicing in Sacramento, Calif., for more than 14 years. She has no relevant financial disclosures. Email her at pdnews@mdedge.com.
Reference
1. “Going the Distance: Finding and Keeping Lifelong Love” (New York, N.Y.: Doubleday, 1991).
Racism has been around for a very long time, and we still have a long way to go to eradicate it, in all of its forms. Racism can be subtle, such as not offering employment to a fully qualified candidate or lowering your level of care because of the color of a person’s skin. Also, you never know if the future will place you in the same position as that of the person you are discriminating against or excluding. Diversity through the mixture of cultures and races is what provides a richness to our communities and our country.
No matter what race we may be, we all are human and deserve to be treated and respected as such. The patient you misunderstood, feared, or dismissed could be the same person who helps you become a better physician. For instance, one of my teenage patients of Chinese descent confessed one day that she was feeling depressed, sometimes to the point of suicidal ideation. However, she was adamant that I not report this condition to her parents. From her, I learned that mental illness, such as depression, are taboo subjects in Asian cultures. This information enabled me to be more sensitive with handling this patient’s condition and treatment.
In many cities across America, people have been protesting the recent tragic death of Mr. George Floyd, an African American man killed by a white police officer. In the past few months, unfortunately, we have seen similar cases of racist acts against African Americans. Sadly, this is nothing new.
There are examples of racist acts against other racial groups as well. Since the coronavirus pandemic became global news, Asian Americans have faced a wave of intense xenophobia in the United States. Be mindful that one race suffering injustice in one country could themselves be racist against another group given the opportunity. An example of this was reported in an April 16, 2020, article in the Los Angeles Times. The events took place in Guangzhou, China. The article reported that Africans living there were harassed, targeted, and evicted from their homes in the port city following the positive COVID-19 tests of five Nigerians. Instead of imposing quarantine based on contact history, China’s response has been based on race amid the coronavirus crisis. Stories like this remind us that racism is not just black and white, but can occur by any dominant culture against the minority. To be clear, not everyone is a racist.
Fear of the unknown causes misunderstanding and weakens the relationship between a pediatrician and the patient. Instead, let us “be curious and not furious.”1 We may look different on the outside, but inside we are all human, with feelings, desires, and dreams. An example of being misunderstood is commonly observed as others stereotype African American populations. For example, an African American mother may be described as rude, loud, and disrespectful by those in your office. Such labeling fails to take the time necessary to understand the other’s perspective, and it dismisses her. Why might she be acting this way? What false assumptions are you making? How would you react if you were frequently disrespected or dismissed? How would you react if you had to worry about being physically harmed? Your visage could appear to be angry or guarded – not exactly welcoming or pleasant. It is much easier to quickly dismiss such a patient and not be sincerely interested in what she or her child’s medical needs may be. Such a disposition only results in frustrating outcomes and the destruction of trust between a patient and the provider.
Although I encounter racism daily in my work, I strive to put aside those violations as I treat my patients and interact with their parents. The decision to be inquisitive and empathetic is a conscious one, which can disarm strangers, allowing for trust to be built. It can engender a smile as well.
Teachers frequently refer parents to us when their children are having learning or behavioral difficulties in school. One challenging case for me involved a Latino boy with learning difficulties. The mother, who does not speak English, had been struggling with getting help for her son. I decided to attend a meeting for the patient’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP) at his school (an IEP is a requirement of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA). My presence at the meeting, given that I am also fluent in Spanish, provided a bridge in communication between the parent and the teachers. Moreover, my presence persuaded the patient’s teachers to be more aggressive in designing an individualized plan to truly help my patient. Latino and African American students commonly suffer from disparities in health and education. In my own practice, I also work toward improving disparities within Latino and African American communities through medical education initiatives. There is so much we, as pediatricians, can do to advocate for these communities.
The absence of empathy leading to the killing of Mr. Floyd admittedly is not the same as what generates an inadequate IEP or the desire to avoid a “loud” parent. Even so, any lack of empathy lowers the quality of patient care. It takes conscious effort to be open to helping someone you do not innately understand. Quality pediatric care cannot happen where racism and misunderstanding exist between a patient and provider. Until we truly stop being selfish, the issue of racism will continue to resurface. One impactful way the majority population can help people of color is by not being a bystander to injustice. Inaction makes you an accomplice to the racist act. We must be brave – “be curious, not furious.” Remember that an injustice to one culture eventually becomes an injustice against us all. Being open to what is different, new, or not well known is how a culture becomes richer and even better.
Dr. Mba Wright is a primary care pediatrician practicing in Sacramento, Calif., for more than 14 years. She has no relevant financial disclosures. Email her at pdnews@mdedge.com.
Reference
1. “Going the Distance: Finding and Keeping Lifelong Love” (New York, N.Y.: Doubleday, 1991).
