Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

MADem

(135,425 posts)
32. They've gone and moved that article, but I found it!!!!
Tue Oct 27, 2015, 07:02 PM
Oct 2015
http://www.newsweek.com/my-black-skin-makes-my-white-coat-vanish-107511


The first time it happened I was a brand-spanking-new M.D., filled with an intern's enthusiasm. Proudly wearing my pristine white coat and feeling sure that I was going to save the world, I walked into my patient's room.

"Hello, I'm Dr. Kasongo. How can I help you?" I asked cheerfully. The patient was a pleasant African-American woman whose chief complaint was abdominal pain. I spent the next 10 minutes taking her history, examining her thoroughly and doing a rectal exam to spot signs of internal bleeding. I explained that I'd treat her pain, check her blood work and urine samples, and go from there. "That's great," she said with a smile. "When is the doctor going to see me?"

I frowned. Hadn't she heard me? Hadn't I just administered an invasive exam on her posterior? "I am the doctor," I told her, making myself smile again. Did she sense my newness? Was it my lack of confidence that made it hard for her to believe I had a medical degree? I decided that even though I was a 30-year-old intern, it must be the youthful appearance I inherited from my ageless mother that was confusing her.


That was four years ago. There have been many such incidents since then, ranging from the irritating to the comical, and I no longer have much doubt that what baffled my patient was the color of my skin. Several months later, I was having dinner at an upscale hotel in Las Vegas with a friend, when she started choking on a piece of food. As she flailed her arms in obvious distress, frantic cries of "Is there a doctor in the room?" rang out from nearby tables. I assured everyone that I was a doctor and administered the Heimlich maneuver successfully. Even as my friend regained her bearings, people at the surrounding tables kept screaming for a physician. Once the "real doctors"--two white males--came to the table and saw that her airway was clear, they told the staff that it appeared that I was in fact a doctor and that my friend was going to be fine. Yet, far from comforting them, this information produced only quizzical looks.

Over the years, the inability of patients and others to believe that I am a doctor has left me utterly demoralized. Their incredulity persists even now that I am a senior resident, working in one of the world's busiest hospital emergency rooms. How can it be that with all the years of experience I have, all the procedures I've performed and all the people I've interacted with in emergency situations, I still get what I call "the look"? It's too predictable. I walk in the room and introduce myself, then wait for the patient--whether he or she is black, white or Asian--to steal glances at the ID card that is attached to my scrubs or white coat. (I've thought of having it changed to read something like: It's true. I'm a real doctor. Perhaps you've seen a black one on TV? ).....

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

It's on DU2, so I'll start right here Warpy May 2012 #1
Yep. Number23 May 2012 #2
Much the same would happen with me when I lived Lilith Rising Jul 2015 #14
Here's mine: xrayvision2005 May 2012 #3
Transgender bias + institutional racism = a world of pain for black transgendered individuals Number23 Jun 2012 #4
tony awards: caste exemplified. nofurylike Jun 2012 #5
Really great post, Fury Number23 Jun 2012 #6
thank you so very much, Number23. nofurylike Jun 2012 #7
Jordan Davis case Number23 Feb 2014 #8
Verdict in Renisha McBride case still to come Number23 Feb 2014 #9
One last kick Number23 Jul 2015 #10
I miss Brewman Jax and this epic thread. kwassa Jul 2015 #11
Me too. I'd never be able to do it justice but I had to try Number23 Jul 2015 #12
He was like Ta-nehisi Coates without his bully pulpit. kwassa Jul 2015 #13
Kick NOLALady Jul 2015 #15
Thanks, NOLA. I got a request to pin these two threads and I think it's a great idea Number23 Jul 2015 #16
Thanks for pinning them both. kwassa Jul 2015 #17
As usual, we are so on the same page. Number23 Jul 2015 #18
Rachel Dolezal and Dylan Roof Number23 Jul 2015 #19
Example: Walking on a narrow sidewalk; white people seldom move out the way... Liberal_Stalwart71 Jul 2015 #20
There have been entire books and courses on white people actually not even SEEING when a brown Number23 Jul 2015 #21
Message auto-removed Name removed Jan 2017 #43
Reminds me of Larry David "Curb" episode where Larry smiles and waves to AfAm walking randys1 Jul 2015 #22
This message was self-deleted by its author floyd1 Jul 2015 #23
It's absolutely hysterical that you think that this is in any way appropriate, needed or wanted Number23 Jul 2015 #24
I think the word you wanted was "condescending" Depaysement Jul 2015 #26
ONE juror had the sense to see what you're doing here. This place is just gone Number23 Jul 2015 #25
White people know better for you than you. There is NO other conclusion to arrive at. randys1 Jul 2015 #27
Lo and behold JustAnotherGen Sep 2015 #30
I'll add numbers to this thread later ismnotwasm Aug 2015 #28
Great! Look forward to your update! Number23 Aug 2015 #29
Systemic racism - there's just no end to it... scarletwoman Oct 2015 #31
They've gone and moved that article, but I found it!!!! MADem Oct 2015 #32
You are FABULOUS! Number23 Oct 2015 #33
Thanks for the find. VulgarPoet Mar 2016 #36
Black artists threaten Oscars boycott over lack of black nominees for SECOND YEAR IN A ROW Number23 Jan 2016 #34
An Unfortunate History of White Actors Playing Other Races Number23 Feb 2016 #35
this american culture heaven05 Mar 2016 #37
How about the fact that our brilliant, elegant, extremely well-educated POTUS and FLOTUS tblue37 Mar 2016 #38
Black men are killed for selling loose cigarettes. Wealthy white Stanford swimmers get six months Number23 Jun 2016 #39
Message auto-removed Name removed Jan 2017 #42
Dr. Sinclair Grey III – Can ‘White Male Privilege’ Ever Come To An End? MrScorpio Jun 2016 #40
Message auto-removed Name removed Jan 2017 #41
I'm not sure if this is relevant Liberallover976 Jul 2017 #44
Going around different forums JonLP24 Oct 2017 #45
Latest Discussions»Alliance Forums»African American»Graphic examples of the r...»Reply #32