Racial Injustice In Light of the Pandemic

In a gut-wrenching Facebook video, a 52-year old physician mustered up all of her remaining courage and breath to record about the bias treatment she received as she battled with Covid-19. She WAS Doctor Susan Moore. 

She complained of excruciating pain and breathlessness, one of the more severe symptoms of the virus. However, doctors stubbornly insisted that she go home and made her feel even more uncomfortable and “like a drug addict” as she requested that she knew would help to alleviate the distress of her symptoms. In her video she states, “This is how black people get killed. When you send them home and they don’t know how to fight for themselves.” 

Dr. Moore’s story negates the very fiber of stories that were webbed about the character of George Floyd and Brionna Taylor. Because the usual narrative is that we die because we already had questionable lifestyles anyway. So now what you got to say? This woman was a doctor, a mother, and a caregiver. She requested service that she provided to countless others, and it was denied her. It is just another reminder that our lives do not matter to some others in this world.

The impact of the pandemic surely brought every industry to a halt, exposed the flaws of the administration and the severity of racial injustice. A journal from Jama Network exposed the disparities between healthcare treatments in relation to race. 

This journal enumerated several factors such as limited access to health care, minimal employment opportunities, housing inequalities and poverty which contributes to the higher out-of-hospital deaths caused by Covid-19. 

However, the most tragic factor that significantly influences medical treatment is implicit bias. Unfortunately, this implicit bias has led to the neglect and inappropriate course of action brought by Moore’s doctor that resulted in her death. 

Implicit Bias: What is It and Why It Prevails Now?

In this frenzy of worldwide panic, professionals in every lane are expected to and should dispose of their sociological notion of colour for the service of the people. But as we repeatedly see, this is not the case. Dr. Moore is one of the more recent tragedies who met their untimely demise because of stereotypical applications. 

But, what is implicit bias and why is it more common now? Is this implicit bias shaping up the expectations a society must-have in a country that vows to place equal importance on everyone? 

Implicit bias refers to the unruly, unjustified, unconscious, and undermining stereotypes people have against other individuals. When a white person sees a Black person, they immediately assume that the individual of colour is a threat. This is a prevailing example of implicit bias. 

The healthcare industry is only one example of how implicit bias is applied, but step back and think about where you work and/or within your industry? Have you seen implicit bias? Have you spoken up about it? Have you received poor treatment because of it?

Evidence of Implicit Bias: Past and Present Occurrences

Now, don’t expect to go into your place of work tomorrow and ask them if they’re aware of implicit bias within the organization for 2 reasons - 1, They’re not going to answer you and 2, If they answer you it’ll probably be a lie. The majority of folk in charge will not admit that they are making decisions based on stereotypical beliefs regarding race and gender. That’s a lawsuit waiting to happen. 

But let’s look at not only one of the biggest displays of privilege but one that included all of the biases and still the result was nothing. On January 6th, some folks decided to storm the capital to make America great again … (insert eye roll) … In the aftermath that followed,  even with people having taken pictures of themselves sitting at the desks of high-ranking elected officials, have you heard anything of anyone being arrested,  charged, reprimanded? There have been sprinkles here and there of someone may be losing a job but the rest of it, not so much. 

Now think back a few months before over the summer. George Floyd was murdered, the Black Lives Matters protests go into full effect. Yet they were called agitators, instigators, and separatists because they decided to peacefully protest the death of a man screaming for help. SWAT was called, the National Guard, all the law folk came out for this. But where were they in January? Why weren’t those individuals, who did this because someone lost an election, cited as being agitators, instigators and separators? The media did through terrorism out there but in the end what came of it? For a peaceful protest where a large majority of protestors were Black folk, all law enforcement was on deck. For an event where damage was planned and carried out but the participants were primarily white folk, they danced all around and in front of law enforcement without pepper spray even hitting the air. 

Courses of Action Against Implicit Bias: Battling Against Societal Unfair Standards

Because of people’s awareness and continued efforts to raise their voices against inhumane treatment of Black folk, there is visible yet unfelt progress in battling implicit bias. 

This is why I work with Black women to embrace everything about themselves and use their voices. This is why I partner with corporations, large and small, to discuss what needs to happen and help them to help themselves in beginning to do the work and end these instances of implicit bias. You need someone to come in and begin to unapologetically lead the work to identify those things that need to be addressed for these things to end. Schedule a Call to Action to discuss how the Blacker the Berry program can become a part of the culture of your organization. 

While implicit bias contributes to the inhumane stereotype and widespread unjust practices to Black folk, there is definitely power in information and awareness. I’m not new to this, I’m true to this. You in or nah? Let’s talk about it in the comments.