Racism exists in healthcare.

We invite members of the Jefferson community to share their experiences with racism.

Share your story

We are gutted by the racism, inequality, and pain that roils our communities. Amid a pandemic due to a viral pathogen, racism represents another chronic, progressive disease in our country.

We launched COVID Stories out of solidarity for the members of the Jefferson community who were facing the pandemic—to give them a place to share their struggles, their triumphs, their feelings, their stories.

COVID Stories stands in solidarity with the black community and communities of color who have faced hate, inequality, injustice, and racism for centuries. We offer our support and hope to provide a place where the Jefferson community can collectively process its feelings and reflections.

Responses

When I was 9 years old, I was aggressively bullied by a boy in my 4th grade class. Many years later, as I saw him on facebook. He posted photos with confederate flags, racist cartoons, and pictures with masks on making fun of black people. I finally understood.

One of my close friends in medical school who is originally from Iran, was called a ‘terrorist’ by one of our attendings. In front of the entire surgical team. And made “jokes” about ‘not killing him with her backpack."‘ One of my classmates (in medical school) was called a N***** by a patient; the residents and attendings said nothing.

This YEAR, I advocated for two of my patients on Labor and Delivery because neither of them were made aware of risks prior to being consented for trial of labor after c-section. My chief dismissed my discussion by saying, 1-”she didn’t believe they weren’t told”, 2-”It’s the patient’s responsibility to read the consent form”, 3-”Maybe it was an NP who consented them”, 4-”Maybe they were in a hurry.”

I don't believe it was about "this case." This has been bubbling up under the surface of our society for such a long time. Colin Kaepernick knelt before the flag four years ago in peaceful protest of police brutality and people were vehemently angry about his "disrespect of the flag." Black men and women have been killed by police for years with no consequence or acknowledgement of need for change. I believe Trevor Noah said it best in his monologue that this was "a domino effect." Immediately prior to George Floyd there was Amy Cooper who 'threatened the life' of a man in NY by lying about the circumstance of their encounter and saying, "I am going to call the police and tell them an AFRICAN AMERICAN MAN is threatening my life." A man that simply asked her to follow the park rule and put her dog on a leash. The threat that she made (and followed through on by calling the police) was an awareness by a white woman that black men are being brutalized by police at a high rate. That incident showed awareness of something that has been consistently brushed to the side during peaceful protests and calls for justice over the past 10 years. Then shortly afterwards, George Floyd was murdered in broad daylight, on camera, with no concern for consequence; and his killer would have very likely (as in many other cases) not faced any consequences for this actions-- be it not for the outrage. SO no, this was not just about "George Floyd," he was the straw that broke the camel's back, this was also about Breyonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Trayvon Martin, Philando Castile, Tamir Rice, and countless others over the years (those that have recently been caught on camera and those whose stories are unheard and unknown)... This goes back as far as Emmett Till in 1955.

– Dr. Brittany Hozik, Resident, Department of Family Medicine

I think this case within the context of another pandemic was the tipping point. As a black woman, I have felt this same outrage but this also felt different because Ahmad Arbery, Breonna Taylor and the racist act perpetuated towards Christian Cooper that could have resulted in his murder were still very much in my heart. I also watched a video of a witness account who was a child and thought about how that murder will have a significant impact on her for the entirety of her life. George's death was a culmination of such pain, trauma, and heartache and we collectively had enough.

Recently, I had a black female patient tell me that no one was taking her concerns seriously. She had been to the ER 3 times in 5 days self reporting an issue with her heart. Clinically, I do believe she was having panic attacks as all test results were remarkable. However, this was a few days after the death of George Floyd. I'm not sure if the entire context was examined before she was discharged.

– Ashlee Battle, Department of Psychiatry

I have been through many dealings with racism in all aspects of our environment and workplace. The experience I had in a well-known hospital was they would not hire a Muslim girl because one of the secretaries was scared because she wore hijab and a overgarment. This girl came from a different part of the hospital and was the best fit for the position and I helped interview her. There was a White girl (no offense) who we also interviewed for the job as well with no medical experience at all. She was a nice girl but in the department I worked in you needed some kind of medical experience. So my manager and my coworker decided they would hire the white girl instead, and that is just one incident. There were many more.

I have also worked at Abington before Jefferson stepped in and there the racism was made publicly and pushed to the side. I also used to work for an insurance company and one of the managers came in the room in which everyone was black and made a comment to the other manager “Yes keep them chained to the chairs like they should be.”

Living in our community we as black people are treated unfairly because people assume every black person is a criminal in their eyes. It is sad when you have to explain to your sons and daughters what to do and say in the fear of them being assaulted or shot. I have a son that was on honor roll at school and was shot at the age of 15 years old in a crossfire while at his friend’s house . So while my son was in the operating room fighting for his life, the detectives pulled me and his father in a room to talk to us. I never thought in a million years the first question they asked: Was my son a part of a gang…How disrespectful and hurtful I felt and when I asked them really that's the first thing you ask me they turned around and said to me well if you can’t help us we can’t help you.

I could go on for days of stories in our community and workplace. I feel like me talking to patients of color when I sit at the front desk I have had numerous complaints of how they are treated differently than other races. I talk to them and I understand them and I know I try my best to help them as I would anyone (doesn't matter of color).

– Unit Secretary, Operating Room

The spark that lit the fire was when the police officer put his knee on George Floyd’s neck, and to hear him tell him he couldn't breath and asking for his mother and the cop just looked like he enjoyed every minute of it. So for any black mother that was painful to watch
and it hit hard. Knowing that we pray everyday for our kids out here in these streets. I think if they didn't wait to arrest the officers involved, yes we would have protested about brutality and injustices in our community but instead they waited until they fully investigated the video. So it sparked rage and anger that stemmed behind a lot of past police brutality and injustices that the black community has suffered through decades. You know growing up from a young age I feel like a lot of people don't understand of the talks we had to endure about the way society sees us and how you have to act or speak.

I try to explain to people when we say the #blacklivesmatter it is not disrespectful by any means. It is a statement that we matter, we have a voice, we have rights and, after all these years, we are still dealing with the same things our ancestors and mothers and fathers had fought for us to be here. We are living in a land that was taken from us, a land our ancestors built from their hands and blood. So no, to us this is not the land of the free if we are still fighting for are freedom. Yes all lives do matter but when you look at statistics we are the ones that get harassed and killed. Just think about it––the same week of George Floyd’s death there was a white man who killed a couple of people and had the police on a manhunt. He came out unharmed and guess what? 9 times out of 10 he will get a lesser sentence than any black male that carries a gun. Now don't get me wrong I do agree that if you commit a crime you have to face the penalty, but it should be equal for both races.

Question how many white males have been thrown against the wall just because the color of their skin? How many white kids have been beating viciously and taken to the police station for a charge that they didn't even commit but sitting on a step with a group of friends?

It doesn't feel good when I'm with my grandkids and they see cops come near us and the first thing they say is ‘Grand-mom are they going to kill us?’ Do I agree with the rioting? NOT AT ALL. However I do understand the anger and frustration. There is no book on how to riot or protest but there is a book on how to be a police officer and there is knowledge on how to treat another race. What people are failing to realize is that we are dealing with a generation that has been done so wrong by the hands of the law, environment, job discrimination and much more. I can say I am angry and emotionally drained.

– Unit Secretary, Operating Room

It’s not so much that it’s this case that sparked the outrage. People are fed up and tired of being harmed by the people who are supposed to protect us. If all four police officers where arrested immediately, it wouldn’t have gotten so bad. But the fact that they tried to justify what happened, instead of just saying that officer was wrong. We (Blacks) are tired of being abused, beaten, killed, choked for simply being black. If one of those other officers would have had the dignity to say “hey, you are upset, step away, I’ll cuff him” we wouldn’t be in this predicament. But no one spoke up, so now the world is speaking up for George. In hopes of preventing that to happen to another person of color. It’s time for a change.

– Member of Oncology Support Team

Because it was plain to see. Even though everyone saw it, lies began and continued. First, for me it was the hands in the pocket and the total nonchalance of what the police officer was doing. It was as if it were a walk in the park. The police officer’s face showed no signs of struggle, either physically or emotionally. This was normal for him. Second, it was moving his knee to apply more pressure knowing he was being filmed. Lastly, it was no one would help George Floyd. No one. And we saw it. We saw it all. Mr. Floyd is a child of God but we saw he was not treated as such. He was disposable to them.

– Chemistry Laboratory Supervisor

My friend, who happens to be black, was in the break room having breakfast listening to others speak in very derogatory terms of the protesting going on. One person turned to him and asked “What do you think”? He was very upset that after having to listen to such derogatory comments to be asked what he thought. He said nothing but shared with me that he was not even seen as important and not thought enough about for the people to not speak of that in his presence.

– Senior Learning and Development Specialist

We have seen so many incidents of angry, out of control cops chasing men of color and shooting them in the back. Then George Floyd. This was not an angry, out of control cop. This was cold, cruel, nonchalant. "Please, I can't breathe!" Ignored. Clearly, part of a long history of cold, cruel killings - think lynchings and so many others. But perhaps George Floyd can be the tipping point, we pray.

– Attending, Department of Family and Community Medicine

The Coronavirus pandemic, unemployment and poverty in general has disproportionately affected the black community. I can imagine that the resulting desperation and hopelessness along with the fear caused by the pandemic must have caused outrage to reach a critical mass for people of color. When George Floyd was killed after literally pleading for his breath, enough was enough. I am not a black person. I am white. This is my observation from a white person's perspective of generations of injustice and substandard treatment of the black community - in other words systemic racism. This karma is shared by all white persons and it is our responsibility to work to eradicate it.

– Elena Marino, Business Operations Manager

Anti-Racism Resources

Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Engagement Group (myJeffHub) - Click here.

Anti-Racism Resources for White People – Click here.

How Healthcare Workers can Help – Click here.

“Dear White People” by Dr. Krys Foster, et al – Click here.

Examples of Racial Microaggressions – Click here.