Final Blog Post

At the beginning of this semester I knew very little about the social and medical prejudices held against African-Americans. I was ignorant of the "Black stereotype" and it's continuous relevancy in modern day America. However, after taking this course I became more cultured of the ongoing racial discourse and disparities. I can now explain, with confidence, the reason for differing healthcare treatment between minority and majority groups. Additionally, each novel that we read in this class, has contributed to my overall understanding of this discriminative treatment of minorities based on their physical characteristics. Many of the author's examined the topics of healthcare and racism, and further explained why medical care was and still is, very racially biased. Nevertheless, when in regards to African-American treatment, I have learned that this is largely due to the carried over prejudices from the era of slavery. Other racial stereotypes such as the diseased Mexican or dirty Chinese laborer, have also affected the treatment of these minority groups. However, African-Americans have felt the highest wrath of racism, especially in healthcare. They were emancipated from slavery, only to be ceaselessly discriminated against because of this past association. They have struggled to attend schools and colleges, get jobs, and receive health insurance or medical care. Further, they have consistently been maltreated in medical experimentation and studies. I have learned that these injustices can be affiliated to slavery's impact on the current innate beliefs of African-American inferiority. Moreover, I appreciate the increased understanding I now have of these cultural differences. Originally, I was bored by the readings and found them difficult to understand; however, the class discussions helped me comprehend the significance of the books and I began to enjoy reading them. Although this was a somewhat demanding course, I am glad I took it because I'm more educated about the meaning of racial discourse and disparities. Additionally, I think this knowledge will help me as a future healthcare provider. I believe this course is very beneficial for multiple reasons, especially for someone going into the medical profession. I gained a lot from this class and I would suggest it to anyone that has an interest in the topic.