Thinking a lot today about how Queen's med school instituted a Black student ban in 1918 that remained on the books for 100 yrs (even after Black students were allowed entry in 1965).
What I'm thinking about how the school responded to criticism over that century.
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What I'm thinking about how the school responded to criticism over that century.
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Queen's was asked multiple times over many decades why the ban was instituted, what happened to the 15 students expelled, and if the school kept its promise to help those students finish their education elsewhere.
As late as 1988, the school gave false and misleading answers.
As late as 1988, the school gave false and misleading answers.
That's right. Even AFTER the ban was over (unofficially anyway), and all of the people associated with it were long gone, the school still felt the need to lie about its past so as to protect its reputation.
Always remember that institutions value self-protection over progress.
Always remember that institutions value self-protection over progress.
This type of institutional protectionism is more powerful than many of us appreciate. I know I've underestimated it in the past in #MedEd.
It thwarts real efforts at progress. Especially in fields like medicine that overvalue tradition and train within a steep & rigid hierarchy.
It thwarts real efforts at progress. Especially in fields like medicine that overvalue tradition and train within a steep & rigid hierarchy.
There have been a lot of #MedTwitter calls to take a stand on equity and make clear that racism and other forms of bigotry do not belong in medicine.
These are lovely to see, however, personal pledges overemphasize the role of the individual and let institutions off the hook.
These are lovely to see, however, personal pledges overemphasize the role of the individual and let institutions off the hook.
For their part, Queen's seems to have finally come to terms both with the shameful ban of 1918 and the subsequent decades of lying about it.*
(*FYI - MANY med schools had explicit bans and quotas on racialized groups & women in the 20th century.)
universityaffairs.ca/features/featu…
(*FYI - MANY med schools had explicit bans and quotas on racialized groups & women in the 20th century.)
universityaffairs.ca/features/featu…
#MedTwitter, let's keep up the hard work holding our institutions and associations to account.
Equity, diversity and inclusion aren't buzzwords to sprinkle in your alumni newsletter - they mean REAL change and UNCOMFORTABLE accountability. There is no progress otherwise.
FIN
Equity, diversity and inclusion aren't buzzwords to sprinkle in your alumni newsletter - they mean REAL change and UNCOMFORTABLE accountability. There is no progress otherwise.
FIN
