Just a personal observation . . .Â
A couple weeks ago I shared a thought with a friend about how I have never seen a black medical doctor. I don’t mean being treated by a black doctor, I mean I have never seen a black doctor with my own two eyes. WifeGeeding also expressed she has never seen a black doctor with her own one eye. Hollywood has plenty of examples, but unfortunately I haven’t seen one. I always thought this was a sad thing, that many blacks are unable to pursue such a career because of financial setbacks, lack of role models in this field, and whatnot. I will say I have seen plenty of white doctors and my fair share of Asian and Middle Eastern docs.
Well, today I had to take my mother to a cardiologist, who happened to be a black female. This reminded me of what one of my high school coaches had to say about female doctors. He said he would always prefer a female doctor because a lot of times they are put through tougher ‘tests’ in medical school and most of them work extra hard to prove themselves – so he always thought he was getting a smarter and tougher doctor. I have to say his logic makes some sense.
I hope what I’m saying doesn’t sound weird or insensitive, but I’m trying to be sincere. Kids often look up to adults as role models in all sorts of fields. When I was a kid, girls didn’t have any professional female athlete’s to look up to other than tennis players and gymnists; but, now girls can look up to professional female athletes such as Mia Hamm, Sue Bird, and Jennie Finch.Â
In today’s world I think it would be hard for a young black girl to find a black female doctor to admire because there are not that many around. I also think it would be hard for a young black male to aspire to become a U.S. Senator, as there have only been three that have been popularly elected in the history of the United States. All this bascially to say . . . here’s hoping for more diversity, opportunity, and hope in our world.
How strange. In my part of the world I know of a couple of black doctors……cardiologist, pediatrician….who have a highly respected practice. And this is in “red-necked” East Texas! Diversity, opportunity and hope is out there………..we just don’t always have the opportunity to see it.
My dad is a Black doctor, so I it’s no surprise to me they are out there! But what you say about role models is so true.. young minority youth need to see themselves in these diverse roles! And I also agree with the fact that it can be hard to find a doctor you are comfortable with when you want to find someone that fully understands your cultural background…
Come visit me at the Texas Medical Center and I’ll introduce you to all flavors of doctors…. African American, Nigerian, Indian, Iranian, and on and on. I had a visiting Thai neurologist spend half a day with me in my office this week. My closest affiliations over the last 15 years has been with Jewish, Muslem, Christian, Agnostics, and Atheist… All races, many ethnicities, and from just about every continent. The only ones that really push my buttons are the Harvard Bostonians. Y’all come on down to Houston for a bit of cultural diversity served with southern hospitality.