My quote from a recent report from Kaiser Health News seemed to miss my point. In “Black Patients Dress Up and Modify Speech to Reduce Bias, California Survey Shows”, the point I’m trying to make is that the healthcare system is geared against Black patients regardless of how they dress or speak. Dressing and speaking well in my experience has little to do with how Black people are treated.

Many studies support the notion that often black patients don’t get the same quality care as white patients in similar healthcare systems. I thought I had clearly conveyed to the reporter that both unconscious and conscious bias on the part of providers was commonplace. This article implies that we have the option to get that care if we dress or speak well. Certainly, that is not my experience. You? 

And the title of the article implies that most Black people will do that. While it may be more common than with other ethnic groups, I have no statistics at hand nor does it certainly not approach a statistical number that would imply that it was mostly Black people who feel this way.

I appreciate anyone who takes on this issue in a public way. If anything, perhaps it will raise the collective consciousness of Black patients on what they may face in trying to get good health care across all aspects of the system. But I have little evidence that the system will change anytime soon. That is why we at the African American Wellness Project strongly encourage all patients, particularly those that are Black, to develop the tools necessary to deal with a system that often has little respect for you.

By being prepared for visits.

If necessary, have an advocate.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions or ask for a second opinion.

For more information, go to our website at www.aawellnessproject.org