Anti-Racism in KC: Acknowledgement, Accountability and Action
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It should not have taken the death of George Floyd to shake me. Unjustified killings of Black men and women have been in our headlines for years. This is not new. My prior inaction was not meant as a lack of compassion or concern but was the result of an immature thought process I hope to outgrow and an implicit bias I need to un-learn. For me, this is new.
As a pediatrician, my passion is the health and wellness of children. Racism harms the health of children. As we speak, Black communities are suffering unequally from the ravages of the coronavirus pandemic. We have long-known increased heart disease, diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure, and lowered immune system function are suffered by Black adults and children as a result of health care disparities and chronic stress. In addition, it is clear that excessive police force against Black people contributes to costly injury, premature morbidity, and death.
These problems are systemic and will require continued long-game generational change. But just like the other serious issues facing our world today, the only way to get to the other side of racial inequity and police brutality is to walk through it. To feel it. To face it. And as we learn, we can choose to take action based upon our level of understanding.
Today, I know I cannot say that I am an anti-racist ally without actively working against systems that harm Black children. Allyship is all about relationships. It is the result of eyeball-to-eyeball connections that are mutually willing to wrestle with hard conversations. It is standing still and continuing to listen even when what you hear is uncomfortable. It is adapting language and amplifying marginalized voices, while continuing invested study and self-reflection.
Most importantly, allyship must be directed by the group of individuals with whom you are partnering; adapting their requested work to your sphere of influence with intentionality and thought; and repeating this process for a lifetime. All this, of course, is not easy. It requires a transparency and humility to fall short and try again, and a willingness to be vulnerable rather than comfortable.
My anti-racist allyship begins with action steps in both my work life and home life. These action steps are not meant to simplify the issues or minimize complexity, but to help me create an intentional path of forward progress. The following ideas are the result of early conversations I have had with Black physicians and nurses in Kansas City. I share this novice plan as marker of accountability and alliance, as well as a reference for others looking for resources or suggestions.
In my work:
Pediatrics is all about prevention. If racism can be prevented, it must start early and in the home. Therefore, age-appropriate anti-racism discussion points and resources will be added to my well visit handout beginning at the age of 1 year. This will include age-appropriate books, podcasts, and articles for both children and parents to choose to read. Once developed, I will share as a free resource to other clinicians.
Once the pandemic is controlled and books return to our exam rooms, my patient families will find new stories of Black heroes and leaders to share with their children during their time in the office. I will also be purchasing and adding extra copies of recommended titles to our Little Free Library so all our patients will be able to take these new books home. As a Kansan, I’m starting with No Small Potatoes: Junius G. Groves and His Kingdom in Kansas by Bolden, and following @hereweread and @theconsciouskid for other great suggestions.
I will continue to support the actions of the AAP as they fight for racial equity and health care for children. The research and work of Black physician leaders will be amplified on my channels as we continue to mutually learn more about how to solve the problems of health care inequity, legal reform, and police brutality. These voices include Dr. Nia Heard-Garris, Dr. Jaqueline Douge, Dr. Jasmine Zapada, Dr. Rhea Boyd, and Dr. Lauren Powell.
In my home:
To be a better doctor, mother, friend, community member and human; I am leaning into the lists of books, movies, articles, and podcasts that support my re-learning and un-learning of systemic racism as compiled by Victoria Alexander. I’m staring with authors Oluo and DiAngelo.
I will share with my children what I am learning and add to their education about Black leaders and heroes who are helping our community and our humanity. I am following the guidance of embracerace.org for age-appropriate discussion points and anti-racist language, AAP leaders in racial equality, and trusted aggregators for more insight.
I will support and encourage participation with groups and organizations that support equity and justice, including local non-profit and religious centers. We will join other families with the same vision for our future through community classes and events.
I will financially support the work of KC-based and national organizations who are fighting for justice reform and against police brutality. Campaign Zero, Urban League of Kansas City, and the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund will get my first dollars.
I will model the attitudes and behaviors I wish my children to emulate.
And above all, I will continue to look for the good, believing in the power of humanity and the hope for our nation’s children and their futures.
Photo of Jim Montgomery
