Pediatricians are supposed to help you track your child’s growth, determine their milestones, and help you keep up with your child’s health. Taking your child to their doctor’s appointments shouldn’t feel like you’re being talked down upon. Unfortunately, for one Georgia mom, she was stunned by what she recently experienced at her son’s pediatrician appointment. What they said to her wasn’t only offensive, but was also incredibly racist – and now she’s speaking up about it.
Abrodie (@mamabrodie) asked if she’s “overthinking” her son’s most recent appointment with his pediatrician. She said she isn’t usually “super sensitive” but didn’t like something the pediatrician said at her son’s six-month appointment. The pediatrician was explaining to her what her son can be eating at this age. As she was explaining appropriate foods, the pediatrician said to Abrodie, “Yeah mom, so you can go ahead and give him that fried chicken.”
Now, Abrodie is black, and she instantly questioned, “What did you mean by that? Why would I give him fried chicken?” The pediatrician remarked, “Oh, well I know you were waiting for the go-ahead. I’m assuming you’ll want to give him fried chicken.” Abrodie found this remark very strange, as fried chicken isn’t even mushy or recommended to give a six-month old baby. It seemed outright racist to her instead of helpful. She said it also felt “micro aggressive.” Abrodie said it’s very clear that her pediatrician wouldn’t have said that to a “different set of patients” and felt that her race was definitely targeted.
Abrodie adds to her rant that her baby is “exclusively breastfed,” so this comment was particularly weird and offhand to her. She thinks that the situation was handled inappropriately. Other commenters agree that the racist remark was completely uncalled for. One commenter stated, “Don’t let that slide. File a complaint.” Another commented, “I was giving the Dr the benefit of the doubt but when you said your baby is 6 months old I screamed. File that complaint now.” Perhaps this is a good sign for Abrodie to consider switching pediatricians, as other commenters recommended. These situations tend to not get better and she doesn’t deserve judgment in her son’s doctor’s office of all settings.
