A Reflection on the Impact of George Floyd at MCW

From the July 28, 2023 issue of the Transformational Times

Perspective/Opinion

Has Anything Changed? A Reflection on the Impact of George Floyd at MCW

Precious Anyanwu & Chiemerie Ogbonnaya, Class of 2026

Three years after the murder of George Floyd, medical students Anyanwu and Ogbonnaya offer their perspective on the shortcomings of the American healthcare system, and the racial and ethnic injustices that perpetuate them...

NOTE: Tear gas can be neutralized with about three tablespoons of baking soda mixed with eight ounces of water. It is important to have this mixture in hand before you arrive at a protest because when the gas hits, there will be no time to waste. Remember to carry enough to help wash the eyes of your peers. But most importantly, get out immediately.

This simple recipe has spread from crowds of protestors in Hong Kong to civil activists in Washington DC, all fighting for the preservation of their people.

In the wake of the unjust murder of George Floyd, protesters sought justice at the steps of our government. Instead, they were met with controlled violence in the form of tear gas and police batons. Even with the gas burning their throats, protesters continued to scream for justice. The pain they experienced in that moment was incomparable to the agony of watching yet another Black man lose his life to institutional injustice.

Long before the shocking event that transpired on May 25, 2020, the lives of persons in Black and Brown communities were undervalued and endangered in America. The death of George Floyd, combined with the simultaneous COVID-19 pandemic, amplified how deeply ethnic discrimination and racial inequities are rooted in key American structures. The pandemic disproportionately impacted marginalized communities because of longstanding, systemic inequalities.

Numerous studies have proven that the American healthcare system does not prioritize cultural understanding for ethnic communities. This neglect contributes to an overall decrease in the standard of care and a notable increase in poor health outcomes. Justified mistrust of the healthcare system by these communities is ingrained in history. America’s past is riddled with medical exploitations of racially marginalized communities; recall the Tuskegee experiments and Henrietta Lacks.

The cycle of medical abuse and healthcare avoidance perpetuates chronic illness and shortened lifespans in Black and Brown communities. If American institutions continue to discriminate against marginalized populations under the guise of extenuating circumstances, they will never restore faith in the system and America will remain tainted by its sordid history.

Change starts at the grassroots

Although we have a substantial amount of progress to make as a country, it is important to acknowledge that change starts at the grassroots. In response to George Floyd’s death, the Medical College of Wisconsin implemented several changes to its surgery department centered around prioritizing the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

These changes brought the opinions of marginalized groups to the forefront, introducing pertinent cultural topics that may not have been considered otherwise.

With this seemingly minor adjustment, disadvantaged communities now have advocates speaking on their behalf in spaces that can implement true change. Some cities also chose to pursue action after George Floyd’s passing. For example, Minneapolis reallocated $8 million from its police department to expand mental health crisis response services and Boston chose to invest $12 million into expanding public and social health services.

White Coats for Black Lives

White Coats for Black Lives originated from the national outcry for justice in response to the murder of George Floyd. We aim to safeguard the well-being of our future patients by advocating for the elimination of racialized medicine.

Our ultimate goal is for government officials and civilians across the country to recognize the need for restructuring how America operates fundamentally.

Tangible action against racial inequities is needed. History cannot be rewritten, and the lives lost from injustice cannot be resurrected, but the future can be changed. 

For further reading: 

1. MCW’s Department of Surgery’s response to George Floyd’s death. https://www.mcw.edu/- /media/MCW/Departments/Surgery/DOS-Statement-Racism-Disparities-DSiversity-6-12- 2020.pdf

2. Vasquez Reyes M. The Disproportional Impact of COVID-19 on African Americans. Health Hum Rights. 2020 Dec;22(2):299-307. PMID: 33390715; PMCID: PMC7762908. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7762908/

3. Eric C. Schneider et al., Mirror, Mirror 2021 — Reflecting Poorly: Health Care in the U.S. Compared to Other High-Income Countries (Commonwealth Fund, Aug. 2021). https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/fund-reports/2021/aug/mirror-mirror- 2021-reflecting- poorly#:~:text=The%20U.S.%20ranks%20last%20on,on%20measures%20of%20care%20process

Precious Anyanwu and Chiemerie Ogbonnaya are in their second year of medical school at the Medical College of Wisconsin. They are currently serving as Co-Presidents of the White Coats for Black Lives organization. Their work emphasizes the importance of outreach and intervention to provide a lifelong space for Black and Brown communities in healthcare.