OPINION: ‘The Deadliest Disease In America‘ explores medical racism to help us see what’s really going on at the doctor’s office.
Editor’s note: The following article is an op-ed, and the views expressed are the author’s own. Read more opinions on theGrio.
There are a lot of good reasons why a lot of Black people don’t like going to the doctor. A visit could be expensive. Sometimes doctors lie—remember the horrific Tuskeegee syphilis study? And hey, Black folks know Robitussin can fix almost anything. Chris Rock made a whole joke about it.
But a lot of what really bothers us when we go to the doctor boils down to racism. Quite often medical professionals don’t talk to us or treat us with respect. This and the many other examples of medical racism are at the heart of the 2010 documentary, The Deadliest Disease In America, by filmmaker Crystal Emery. Many Black people find themselves being treated lesser than by doctors just because they’re Black, and it’s not only infuriating, it can lead to a lesser brand of care.
Many times, medical professionals do not believe what Black people are telling them or today!
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