Cynthia AdinigWhen people of color see me, an expert level patient advocate, be powerless to save my own life in a medical emergency due to #bias & ignorance, this furthers their disinterest in participating in #ClinicalTrials or routine care. No matter how much money we put into outreach.
The same way men can't fully understand the nagging reality of assault that comes with being a woman, even my white chronically ill counterparts could never fully grasp how easily even routine healthcare can turn into the violent end of black lives. #neisvoid #DisabilityTwitter
Yet, in spite of the harm to our body and mind, in healthcare, people of color STILL get stuck with the high financial cost of traumatic racist incidents with little legal recourse to fight back. The same structure that allowed police brutality to occur for decades #healthequity
It is often implied that people of color simply need to become aware of the long term value of participation in healthcare & research. We are very aware of it's value. But we must ALSO factor in present day safety. Every interaction we have in society can end our life or freedom.
Imagine being forced to pay for trauma, while financially disadvantaged. That's the dice POC roll when we engage in healthcare. People ask, why there's so few health advocates of color? It's partly because the healthcare system is a danger to our lives. Visibility is dangerous.
A common stereotype is that people of color participate in more reckless behaviors. That black people especially value life around us less than other communities. But for any of us to make it to middle age requires intentional community effort.
As a black person ending your life in America, doesn't even have to be an active action. Instead we can simply stop putting the effort required to curtail the many obstacles we face daily and become yet another name lost to the byproduct of white supremacy.
If you'd like to hear me speak candidly, about the intersectionality of police brutality, gender & racial health equity, join me this Sunday, January 22 at 4pm ET. With readings from The Long Haul with @r_prior hosted by @MassMECFS This event is free. http://Www.massmecfs.org
Ahimsa@CynthiaAdinig Adding a couple hashtags to help spread the word
https://www.massmecfs.org/news-events/66-sunday-conversations/832-sunday-conversations-jan2023