CLEVELAND — Front line workers are taking a front line position against racism throughout the world and within the Northeast Ohio community.
Come Thursday, members of the University Hospitals medical community knelt in silent reflection on issues of structural racism with a White Coats for Black Lives Observance: “In Silence. In Solidarity.”
"There, we will kneel in silent reflection on the persistent issues of structural racism and what each of us as individuals might do to advance racial equity and safety from violence for people of color," said Dr. Margaret Larkins-Pettigrew, head of the Diversity office at University Hospitals. "Disparities in health care is an outcome of structural racism."
The goal is to create an environment where all African-Americans feel welcome, respected and valued.
"We want to experience those 8 minutes 46 seconds that [George Floyd] was asking and saying to his mother and the people around him that he could not breath," said Dr. Larkins-Pettigrew. "We want to stand together and say we want to do this together. The goal is to create an environment where all African-Americans feel welcome, respected and valued."
Dr. Larkins-Pettigrew says the observance is a way to address equity of care, grow together and acknowledge structural racism in the medical community and the world.
"Many times we can't gain the trust from African American communities and communities of color because of the way they are treated at the bedside," said Dr. Larkins-Pettigrew. "Being black is not a disease, being black is the significant and tremendous burden that has been placed on people of colored for their entire lives."
