We have been doing a lot of research in public health and medicine to understand how racism is negatively impacting the care of our patients. Racism is a major public health problem. Doctors across the United States, including myself, have joined in the protests and are speaking out against police brutality and killings of Black people. These protests and open conversations about the impact of racism and need for social justice have already led to some positive changes.
You can support this movement for social justice in many ways besides going outside to protest. If you choose to go to a protest, please wear a mask.
- Donate to organizations committed to justice and equity, such us Black Lives Matter and the NAACP.
- Support Black-owned, including Cape Verdean-owned businesses.
- Volunteer your time and energy, for example at a soup kitchen, translating documents about the protests or health disparity to other languages, and mentoring young Black and Brown people.
- Educate yourself about the history of racism and racial injustice in America.
- Read a book, such us How to be an Anti-Racist by Ibram X. Kendi and Why Are All The Black Kids Sitting Together in The Cafeteria? And Other Conversations About Race by Beverly Daniel Tatum.
- Watch a movie such us 13th by Director Ava DuVernay and I Am Not Your Negro.
- Listen to postcasts such as 1619 from the New York Times and Throughline from NPR.
We need to keep the conversation and pressure going for our sake and the sake of our family and community.
If you have questions about the coronavirus, women’s health, sexuality, or social activism that you would like Dr. Pimentel to answer, email your question to VeroMD.net@gmail.com.
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