1/ “I can’t breathe”
George Floyd said that 16 times, as onlookers watched, helpless.
For those of us in health care, those words compel action. “I can’t breathe” means that we must act. We have to help
I've been obsessively ruminating on what I would have done if I was there
George Floyd said that 16 times, as onlookers watched, helpless.
For those of us in health care, those words compel action. “I can’t breathe” means that we must act. We have to help
I've been obsessively ruminating on what I would have done if I was there
2/ I wondered how I could have helped. Whether I would have
Maybe I could have used my privilege to intervene, without being attacked. “I’m a doctor” I would tell the officers. I would tap his shoulder, or would I have to tackle him?
Instead I felt helpless and devastated
Maybe I could have used my privilege to intervene, without being attacked. “I’m a doctor” I would tell the officers. I would tap his shoulder, or would I have to tackle him?
Instead I felt helpless and devastated
3/ George Floyd’s murder ripped away the veil over American Racism this week. Its brutal and ugly face is visible to all who would see
It can't be misinterpreted, talked away, or ignored again
This isn't the first time our black friends and coworkers have said “I can’t breathe"
It can't be misinterpreted, talked away, or ignored again
This isn't the first time our black friends and coworkers have said “I can’t breathe"
4/ They have told us when they don’t feel safe- for themselves and for their children.
They have told us of the fear that any vigilante, or even someone sworn to protect them, could do them harm, with impunity
And all too often, we have been bystanders
Sympathetic. Bystanders.
They have told us of the fear that any vigilante, or even someone sworn to protect them, could do them harm, with impunity
And all too often, we have been bystanders
Sympathetic. Bystanders.
5/ The risk of being killed by the police is more than twice as high among black men and boys as white men and boys.
But structural racism is not just about policing. In our work in public health it is also unavoidable: black Americans are 2.4X as likely to be killed by COVID-19
But structural racism is not just about policing. In our work in public health it is also unavoidable: black Americans are 2.4X as likely to be killed by COVID-19
6/ They’re working the essential jobs that expose them to the virus. They’re more likely to have chronic stress and chronic conditions that put them at higher risk. When they end up at the hospital, studies have shown that they are more likely to get worse care. Black in America.
7/ We cannot avoid the role of American Racism in that, nor in the protests and violence happening today
Re-read Martin Luther King, Jr's "Letter from Birmingham Jail", written before the major legislative successes of the Civil Rights Movement
africa.upenn.edu/Articles_Gen/L…
esp 👇
Re-read Martin Luther King, Jr's "Letter from Birmingham Jail", written before the major legislative successes of the Civil Rights Movement
africa.upenn.edu/Articles_Gen/L…
esp 👇
8/ Many feel the pain more directly than I ever could.
Most of us are afraid-of peaceful protests becoming violent, of contemptible opportunists taking advantage to loot, and fan the flames of chaos.
Some are worried about what will happen in electoral politics because of this.
Most of us are afraid-of peaceful protests becoming violent, of contemptible opportunists taking advantage to loot, and fan the flames of chaos.
Some are worried about what will happen in electoral politics because of this.
9/ But I think that, as Dr. King wrote, it’s not time to overly focus on being strategic, or to worry about whether it’s this season or next season
I believe that good can come even from this. I believe that good can come
We can reform, fundamentally, how we police in America.
I believe that good can come even from this. I believe that good can come
We can reform, fundamentally, how we police in America.
10/ I believe that we also need to reform how our health care system cares for Black communities. I believe that we need to make these changes so that Black Americans get the security and the health that every American deserves.
We cannot be bystanders.
aafp.org/media-center/r…
We cannot be bystanders.
aafp.org/media-center/r…
11/ Broadway Family Medicine in Minneapolis was looted and destroyed. But those who work at that clinic support the protests.
And when the smoke cleared they got right back to work.
And when the smoke cleared they got right back to work.
12/ A team of volunteers swept up the broken glass. They set up a clinic in the parking lot. They offered free medical supplies, formula, diapers, food and other resources to the entire community.
They show us how to be more than bystanders, or victims
They show us how to be more than bystanders, or victims
13/ Our company @AledadeACO will also be more than bystanders.
We’re going to take a minute of silence and then we will find our paths to action.
We are no longer going to be on the edge of the circle, watching helplessly.
We will not stand by when others cannot breathe.
We’re going to take a minute of silence and then we will find our paths to action.
We are no longer going to be on the edge of the circle, watching helplessly.
We will not stand by when others cannot breathe.
