I attended my

[heaven05]

AA cancer survivors group last evening and the disparities in medical care a part of the open discussion. When it came to services for AA vs whites the details were shocking but not surprising. This type of attitude in this system, medical, is one reason, I feel, for the 'early age' 60 is early these days, AA death rate. Stroke, heart attack and a myriad of other maladies.

One participant started our discussion by talking about feeling like a piece of meat when all the doctors came in. They did not introduce themselves, just came over and snatched open the covering she had and started talking about how her incisions looked. The other members of the group nodding gravely, whatever. She said, they then moved on leaving her uncovered and having to hurriedly cover herself, introduced themselves and spoke kindly to the white patient in the semi-private room. Explaining what they were doing every step of the way. "Her heart was broken and fell", her words. She made sure she told us she had 'good' insurance. Why would she feel the need to say that I wonder? This is unacceptable yet a sad reality in all areas of amerikan life.

My first meeting and not many people were there this time. The facilitator said summer attendance is always low. So I expect to hear more on this developing story as other attendees return after summer. We moved on and talked of the treatment of the children at the border snatched from parents seeking asylum in our haven for the tired, hungry etc ect. Then I mentioned the statue of liberty protestor, Therese Patricia Okoumou

I saw how roughly the pig that 'captured' Ms Okoumou was with her. She was a non-violent, non-threatening, unarmed demonstrator, an immigrant herself on the statue supposedly representing our shores as a haven for the tired, hungry ect which today is changed to terrorized, raped murdered by despots etc.

Very meaningful act by these protestors and this protestor particularly, an immigrant from the Democratic Republic of Congo protesting racist policies by the trump administrations 'black shirts' ICE. And she was bringing attention to the treatment of the kidnapped children at our southern border of parents seeking asylum from the very scenarios mentioned above.

THIS IS systemic, ingrained psychological and institutional ameriKan racism described at it's ugliest.

http://www.businessinsider.com/therese-patricia-okoumou-immigration-protest-at-statue-of-liberty-july-4th-2018-7

https://verysmartbrothas.theroot.com/black-women-are-people-expecting-them-to-be-our-savior-1827372317

[sheshe2]

1. Rise and Resist.

Sorry to hear about the disparities in our healthcare system for AA and POC, heaven. It is not right.

[heaven05]

3. yes! Rise and Resist!!!

with every fibre of ones being.

[sheshe2]

5. Yep!

And back at you~

[lunasun]

2. She should repeat it everywhere with all med fac that she has private group insurance. One look

at a person and many bigots decide and judge what kind of treatment you deserve. Many think you are stealing medical care if on Medicaid (the usual assumption of a bigot looking at a POC) or can't afford it if on a high deductible ACA plan . Not all but plenty do without asking just by looking at you

I work in a field that has contact with hospitals and know to always make that fact known if I had to use med care and the bigotry that exists . I feel the need, so I don't wonder why that is ingrained in her to mention that even to the support group . I have had other issues unrelated to insurance to know plenty of bigots in the field when seeking my own medical care. Plus what I overhear in my contact work solidify those experiences.

If she was in another of many other countries, her insurance would be the same for all, so that would be at least one less roadblock to healthcare with dignity

[heaven05]

4. it was an eye opener

sad but true, she was angry and hurt, fighting back her tears. I was driven to tears. We must somehow solve racial disparity in all areas of American society. Is it possible? I just don't know....