06/05/2020
My accomplished and wonderful doc! Great words of wisdom and maturity. May we all try to strive for excellence.
The first time I was called nig #%r I was 7 yo. I was attending my “privileged” private catholic white dominated school (I was happy and had zero problem with the school). It was recess. No one knows this story because right after it happened, something changed. I began to deflect, absorb or ignore those type of negative, yet empty comments so much so that I stopped remembering them after they took place. When you’re 7, you have two choices to make. You can retaliate physically or you can absorb, have the maturity and understanding you will end up being the problem if you respond with your fists. That’s the difference. If you’re white, you don’t have to expend the energy to make that choice. And definitely don’t HAVE TO make it at 7 years old. (My first born is 7) I haven’t even brought up the substitute teacher Ms. Desiree who refused to teach me or call on me because I was black. No wonder some of my friends wondered why I had so many non black friends growing up. What was I supposed to do? Isolate and sit in the corner by myself? Nah. That’s not me. I turned the other cheek, dealt with it (along with pu***ss Ms. Desiree) and took advantage of the opportunity I had. But I don’t think my kids (or any kid that looks like me) should have to make that choice. How long do we have to “turn the other cheek”? I would have hoped the officer exercised the same restraint I have to when being called the N-word. That’s one of many reasons why I’m speaking up now. I should have said something then. I’ve shared a lot of experiences lately only to illustrate that a problem exists. Tomorrow, I’ll share a final story of a racist interaction in medical school that may have led to positive change. Then we will touch on actionable items instead of my black experience. My boys are leaders here so I’m just listening and helping. 📸cred sorry, my thumbs just started going again. It happens.