That's the number of African Americans that will become dentists in the Untied States this year...in the whole entire country, just 300. And let's not talk about how many of those are women. It's an impossibly small number, but it's not lost upon me. I've chosen to join a profession that historically tried to keep people like me out of their profession and organizations long after so many others had integrated. Now in 2017, I've had to deal with dentists telling me they don't want to work with me, classmates insulting me, and patients refusing treatment from me. It's unbelievable how much people chose to judge my competence by my blackness. So when I say the struggle is real, I mean it. Because it's not my personal struggle I'm referring to, but a systematic one against so many. But I can't be angry or upset about my struggle, it does no good. Instead, I keep pushing, keep fighting, keep working towards my goal.
linking up for Show&Tell Tuesday
linking up for Show&Tell Tuesday
GOOD FOR YOU!! We had the most amazing african american dentist for about five years. I literally teared up when I heard she was moving out of state! (though still happy for her since she was moving to get married.) My 9 year old wants to be a doctor, so we try extra hard to use african american doctors when we can. I want her to know she can be anything she wants when she grows up <3
ReplyDeleteI love that you do this to encourage your daughter, I never saw a black doctor (or one of any ethnicity really) until I was in my 20's and it felt like culture shock
DeleteI am so sorry. It is not right. I am seriously so grateful for dentists because I cannot handle teeth. The reality that someone would look at you poorly because of you skin color makes me sick. Thank you for becoming a dentist anyway!
ReplyDeleteHopefully, I can change a few people's minds
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