Thread by @SarooSharda_MD

I’ve been tagged in a lot of “pledge” tweets regarding antiracism. I haven’t responded to any of them. Here’s why. 🧵

I don’t really understand what you mean by “pledge”. What is it you’re “pledging” to do? More importantly, what have you actually *done*?

I’m not black 1/

But I have thought a lot about racism, particularly in the context of the oppressive structures of medicine and medical culture. I’ve written about it, spoken about it and suggested concrete ways we can move forward:

blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2020/03/05…

But I repeat, I’m not black 2/

I do not come from a community that has been violently and continually oppressed for centuries. I do not come from a community that has tried over and over again to have their voices heard, only to be forced to shout louder and louder, and even then to be drowned out 3/

I do not fear for my life if I walk down the street and encounter a police officer. I do not have to have “the police talk” with my kids. I do not have Grandparents or Great Grandparents who were enslaved. The list could go on in terms of the injustice and brutality that 4/

continues for black (and Indigenous) folks.

What I do have as a non-black POC, as a physician, as an educator, as a leader, as a parent, as a writer, is a voice. I have power, privilege and status. And therefore it is my duty, in all of those roles, to ACT. Not to pledge, 5/

but to DO.

So what have I done (and it’s minuscule but it’s a start)?And that’s what I want you all to remember - what you do doesn’t have to be huge. But it must be done. ALL non-black people have a duty, as humans,as people who have (unwittingly or consciously) contributed 6/

to systemic racism, to do *something*.

Here’s what I have done so far (again, it’s minuscule, but I want you to think about what you’re going to do):

1. Listen.I am listening and reading everything I can get my hands on that I haven’t already consumed,from black colleagues

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black scholars, black activists. The resources are abundant but here’s a few that have really helped me:

forge.medium.com/amp/p/c900645d…

https://mobile.twitter.com/mireillecharper/status/1266335563197501440?s=20

thestar.com/opinion/star-c…

https://twitter.com/ClintSmithIII/status/1268634193250209797?s=20

facebook.com/7976226799/pos…

Ordered How To Be An AntiRacist by @DrIbram 8/

Rereading White Fragility.

I’m trying to approach all of this listening from a place of humility. @arunadhara and I talk about the framework of Narrative Humility for listening here (@Sayantani16)

cmajblogs.com/its-time-to-ta…

2. Trying to understand how South Asian’s have 9/

contributed to anti-black racism. This has included confronting the anti-black racism that existed in my community growing up. It has included the deep discomfort of acknowledging that it existed in my home. In my family. That discomfort has been very necessary.

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3. Refusing speaking invitations on racism in medicine.Mine is NOT the voice that needs to be centred right now.Suggesting and actively amplifying the work and voices of black women scholars and black women in medicine instead.

4. Thinking VERY hard about how as a colleague 11/

and a friend I can reach out to my black and Indigenous friends in a way that is meaningful vs. tokenistic. Still trying to figure this one out.

5. Donating to black owned businesses. Donating to a fund for access to black mental health professionals for black folks 12/

6. Having conversations with friends who are questioning anti-black racism and trying to educate them as to the horrific histories of black oppression and the notion of white privilege (which is also South Asian privilege in my mind) and reminding them this oppression is 13/

ongoing, rampant and manifests in innumerable ways, including much poorer health outcomes for black people.

7. Speaking with every medical organization I am involved with about what we are going to do re antiracism. Pushing and pushing till I get an answer. Offering my time 14/

8.Watching the excellent CNN/Sesame St townhall with my kids today (age 7&4)&having a conversation (we’ve had many prior to this too) about racism.Being heartbroken&yet immensely proud of their qu’s

Resources for parents
prettygooddesign.org/blog/Blog%20Po…

https://twitter.com/ChomiloMD/status/1265746340157558786?s=20

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9. Talked to #MedEd friends like @DrFadiTO about how we are going to introduce curriculum reform (particularly in #simulation education) to directly tackle racism.

10. Every time I feel sad/overwhelmed,reminding myself that black folks are feeling it multiplied by infinity 16/

And for anyone that thinks this isn’t a Canadian problem. Trust me. It is

https://twitter.com/HonAhmedHussen/status/1266896132220780544?s=20

https://twitter.com/kofi_hope/status/1268920425872056322?s=20

Special thanks also to @DrLisaRobinson @RicharLisa @gradydoctor @uche_blackstock @MarciaJAnderson whose work&tweets have been of immense guidance

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Also the ongoing work/voices of @NaheedD @AmitAryaMD @javeedsukhera @dkhanna80 @NankyRai @MalikaHSharma @arunadhara @chikastacypoet @RitikaGoelTO @choo_ek @Arrianna_Planey @Drawn2Intellect @OnyeActiveMD continue to inspire me and be sources of
learning 18/

So here’s my version of the “tag people to make a pledge” tweet. Please share not your pledge, but your action. How are you using your power and privilege to be actively antiracist? It can be small or big. It all counts. Let’s share and inspire one another and pledge to act. 19/

@DeepaKattail @annekwong @JepJames @DrGurdeepParhar @AlexAndersonMD @Ron_George @jaymcv @SharonBalMD @DrSCBrown @AlanaFlex @SalSpadafora1 @julie_maggi @ddsv3 @inquisitiveGyn @jmarkwalt @MPaiMD @NupuraBakshiMD @KanupsKumar @TomVargheseJr @tajmustapha_md @BurgartBioethix 20/

@imswimming3 @NeelaJan @Monika_Dutt @Nishaobgyn @CdnWIM @ON_Anesthesia @healthinthehmmr @cpaolag @ottawaheartrob @colinjmccartney @NightShiftMD @drpaulgill @RA_Whyte @MacAnesthesia @TChanMD @neon8light @PEAKMD @JillianHortonMD @DocMCohen @jasjitkauratwal fin/

Thank you to everyone who has reached out with their actions and for whom this thread stimulated some reflection. I am still learning and working too and thank you for what you have taught me via your responses. Some of the first Black voiced I started to follow on Twitter cont/

when I joined a little over a year ago were @uche_blackstock @DrJRMarcelin @gradydoctor @divadocsbos @DrQuinnCapers4 @ruha9 @JoshuaSealy @ClintSmithIII I have learnt SO much following them. Here are more you should also follow @bmsacanada @cclareMDMPH @DrDaniJackson cont/

@LashNolen @mylesdmoody @QaaliHussein1 @DrJCoftheDC @kdc_md @drlisaherbert @DrChandraFord @docmosho @DrBrittaniJ @RFentonMD @JRJCHAIR @BhealthyMD @thePhDandMe @gumbo_amando @NMHheartdoc @RheaBoydMD
No doubt there are many, many more.
And don't forget to follow #BlackInTheIvory