What would you do?
You’re a doctor, and a Black woman in labor is telling you something feels wrong, but other staff dismiss her. What would you do to advocate for her?
Discuss how implicit bias in maternal care needs addressing. Reference Serena Williams’ story in Under the Skin.
What’s the term for how chronic stress from racism wears down the body?
What is weathering?
Black maternal mortality rates are too high.
What are solutions like implicit bias training, doulas, and improving maternal care access?
Many doctors still falsely believe that Black people have thicker skin or feel less of this than white people.
What is pain?
How does the concept of "weathering" explain the physical effects of racism on Black Americans?
Weathering refers to the premature aging and stress-related health issues caused by the cumulative impact of exposure to racism. Chronic discrimination causes physical wear and tear on the body, leading to increased rates of diseases like hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease in Black Americans.
A medical student shares with you that they believe Black people feel less pain because of outdated medical teachings. How do you educate them?
Talk about implicit bias training and the need to confront historical myths
Name one major factor in environmental racism affecting Black communities.
What is air pollution or industrial waste?
Black neighborhoods are disproportionately affected by pollution.
What are solutions like community activism, policy reform, and environmental regulation?
Villarosa highlights that implicit bias training is needed because many medical students falsely believe Black patients need lower doses of this.
What are painkillers or opioids?
How does implicit bias in healthcare contribute to the disproportionately high maternal mortality rates among Black women?
Implicit bias in healthcare leads to Black women being dismissed or not taken seriously when they report pain or complications during pregnancy and childbirth. This lack of attentive care results in poorer outcomes and higher maternal mortality rates compared to white women, even when factors like income and education are controlled for.
You’re a community leader in a predominantly Black neighborhood facing high asthma rates due to nearby factories. How would you advocate for environmental change?
Discuss grassroots activism, environmental racism, and organizing for cleaner air.
What famous athlete’s childbirth story highlights racial bias in maternal healthcare?
Who is Serena Williams?
Black patients often receive inadequate pain management.
What are solutions like educating doctors on bias, improving patient advocacy, and more diverse hiring?
According to the book, Black people are more likely to die from this health event than white people, even when adjusting for education and income levels.
What is childbirth or maternal mortality?
How does environmental racism contribute to higher rates of asthma in Black communities?
Environmental racism places Black communities near sources of pollution, such as factories and highways, where poor air quality increases the likelihood of developing respiratory issues like asthma. These neighborhoods are disproportionately exposed to environmental hazards due to racist zoning practices and economic inequality.
You’re tasked with reducing healthcare disparities in your local hospital. What changes would you implement first?
Discuss policy changes, diversity in the workforce, and improving patient-doctor relationships.
In the book, Villarosa says, "Racism itself is a health risk." What health problem does she link to this idea?
What is premature aging or stress-related illness?
Many doctors still believe in harmful racial myths.
What are solutions like better medical education, implicit bias training, and challenging outdated teachings?
"The false belief that Black people feel less pain than white people has its roots in slavery," Villarosa writes. This belief impacts what aspect of medical treatment?
What is pain management?
How does the myth of biological differences between races affect pain management for Black patients?
The myth that Black people have thicker skin or a higher tolerance for pain, which stems from the racist pseudoscience of the past, leads to Black patients receiving inadequate pain management. Many doctors, consciously or unconsciously, prescribe lower doses of pain medication or dismiss Black patients’ reports of pain due to these false beliefs.
You’re a policymaker creating a healthcare reform plan. How do you ensure it addresses racism in healthcare?
Talk about addressing social determinants of health and advocating for universal healthcare.
What is one major solution proposed in the book to reduce healthcare disparities?
What is increasing diversity in the medical workforce?
Healthcare systems are not equipped to address racism.
What are solutions like universal healthcare, addressing social determinants of health, and increasing diversity in leadership?
Villarosa debunks the idea that genetic differences between races are responsible for health disparities, explaining that these differences are due to this instead.
What are social and environmental factors?
How does the Tuskegee Syphilis Study contribute to the ongoing mistrust of the healthcare system among Black Americans today?
The Tuskegee Syphilis Study involved unethical treatment of Black men, including withholding medical treatment without their knowledge. This historical exploitation has led to a lasting mistrust of medical institutions among Black Americans, as it symbolizes a long history of medical abuse, racism, and negligence. Villarosa highlights this legacy to explain why many Black individuals are hesitant to seek medical care or participate in clinical studies.