The theory of “Black incompetence” is literally just an excuse for people to be racist. People don’t focus on achievements within the Black community and give people of color the credit they deserve often enough. An Ohio woman shares her own personal story about how a Black woman came through for her in the best way possible when she was in a health crisis. In the end, she even saved her life.
TikTok user The Loaf and Crumb (also called Hol) shared a very personal story about a time she was having medical problems. Naturally, it led to Hol seeing various doctors. Unfortunately, though she had very real concerns, the doctors wrote her off and called her a “psychiatric patient” with anxiety. And they were all White (and male). It wasn’t until a Black neurosurgeon stepped in and helped Hol when she needed it most.
Here Hol finally found a doctor who listened “to what I had to say and believe what I had to say.” She told Hal she indeed had a health problem related to her brain. That’s scary enough, but the doctor also told Hal she’d need brain surgery. Imagine going through eight doctors, each of which shoo you off, then find out you suddenly need brain surgery. Hol uses that experience to rightfully push against a racist narrative, “It’s not black incompetence at play here.“
Commenters were definitely over the moon about Hol’s message, and even shared their own positive experiences. Many mentioned they’ve received phenomenal care and attention from Black professionals all their lives. “My OBGYN is an African male and he cared more about my body and my irregular periods than a woman which is sad! And then people make it awkward when men want to become OBGYNs when they come in with more concern and don’t write women off and throw them on BC,” one person shared.
“We have to actually open the book. We have to do more, study harder, and reach higher. We can’t cut corners. That’s why she noticed what you needed and treated it,” another argued, which is an excellent point. There is a very real force acting on minorities that makes it harder to achieve the same goals as your average White person. It’s hard enough for women to get a proper, attentive doctor!
