Let Justice Ring: Eyes to See, Ears to Hear

Let Justice Ring: Eyes to See, Ears to Hear: There are two Americas. I live in one. It is the white one. My family and many of my friends live in the same white America. I have friends ...

Disparities and My Experience as a White Guy

Nothing feels terribly normal and routine about medical care in this house of late. A post op consult with my surgeon a month following surgery seemed like a good time to dive into some disparity research that I'd been putting on hold. The energy was there is read and think a little.

We arrived at the hospital early, did all of the check in stuff, and settled into a wait. The May-September, 2018 issue of The American Journal of Economics and Sociology provided much depth and breadth. Louis Lee Woods' article, "The Inevitable Products of Racial Segregation," Teron McGrew's "The History of Residential Segregation in the United States," and "Ruqaiijah Yearby's "Racial Disparities in Health Status and Access to Healthcare" all provided useful material that would inform and distract from the consult to come.

In short, health disparities lie within the middle of a confluence of forces that make for life in America. African American's home ownership, wealth, employment status, ability to purchase insurance, availability of medical care, affordability of medical care, and a number of other variables give rise to the notion of systemic racism. Everything is connected to everything else, and all is explained by the fact that the advantage goes to the white person.

And then my surgeon came in. He looked at the two bags, sat down, opened up his computer on the adjacent desk in the corner, and began to ask my wife and me questions. I am an anomaly to him. It is seldom the case that one of his patients wrestle with such  complications. Dr. Caddedu has some decisions to make about my healthcare.

I am struck by what I am experiencing and what I have been reading and what I have heard through the years. I realize that I am a privileged white male. Medical care is readily available to me. No hospitals have been closed in my immediate area.  My wife and I can afford insurance. We can afford for the supplements that cover everything else. So far, my medical bill is $0.00. You do not want to know what has been charged out. Those numbers are truly staggering.  The hospital and physicians are Medicare providers. Whatever the physician prescribes I will take. I have read abstract of some of his publications. I do not have to decide between paying the rent, or food for the week, and medical treatment.

I get in to see the physician or one of his residents or fellows almost immediately. Some have to wait and wait and wait.

My physician seems relatively unhurried, taking his time, exploring options for what to do next.

He sits, rubbing his face, contemplating things of which I could not understand, and lets my wife and me know that it is complicated. How many poor folks have physicians who take time and effort to make decisions? I don't know, but my suspicion is that overworked physicians in some hospitals have a limited amount of time for each patient.

The physician gives us the plan of action. The PA comes in and removes one device. A procedure is scheduled for some time tomorrow and the doctor's team will call with confirmation.

While we drive home, stunned at what we just experienced, the phone rings. It is the urologist's office setting up a time for tomorrow for the procedure. Then another call. It is the anesthesiologist's office setting up details for that person.

Then, and now, I think about my friend in NC whose health is in decline because of his medical condition, and I wonder if he is getting the care that he needs. I think of the farmer I met just recently whose blood sugar is occasionally out of control, something that endangers him. Then I think about the gentleman in Dawson, Georgia several years ago who was dying of cancer and worriation. There are others. Perhaps you know them. Perhaps they are you.

Those are just people I know.

Disparities are for real. In a just world, disparities are not so drastic. We can work for a more just society in which people do not have to decide between rent and medications.

In a just society, people will not die prematurely.

An Update on the Black Farmer Documentary Effort

The last update from us was back in June as we wrapped up the intense week of traveling across Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Alabama. Since then, the work has continued though on a slower pace for me, but for Shoun, things are continuing at warp speed.

Here is a brief summary of what we’ve been up to over the last two years.  In terms of funding, we received a sizable grant from the Black Farmers and Agriculturalists Association and its amazing leader, President, Gary Grant. While that was sizable no doubt, and got us moving down the road, we realized early on that expenses were going to be higher than we anticipated. That is where our friends stepped in.  Many of you prayed over the effort and offered words of support, 90 of you reposted my posts on the FB fund raising page, and 146 of you donated a total of $10,225. We find that both amazing and humbling.

Thus far, in both 2018 and 2019, Shoun and I (and Charla), have made six trips across eleven states.  We have been in Texas (twice), Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, North Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, Alabama, New Jersey, Maryland, and Washington, DC.

We have interviewed legal counsel, farmers and families; a former USDA Secretary of Agriculture; a former Director, Office of Civil Rights, USDA; the president emeritus of the USDA Coalition of Minority Employees; and the author of the premier book on injustices perpetrated by the USDA upon Black farmers during the age of the Civil Rights.

To the best of our abilities to ascertain, there were 15 farmers who settled administratively with the USDA in 1997, 1998, and 1999. The Department of Justice was deeply involved, but that is a story for another day. Of those 15 farmers, we were unable to locate three of them either because they were deceased and we could not contact family members, or we could not contact them period. May they Rest in Power from their trials and tribulations.

Three declined participation. Two are currently living but have legal obligations in areas that conflicted with our efforts. One son of a deceased farmer declined because “that was then and this is now.” We were disappointed in all three of these, but we understand complicated matters of various sorts.

We interviewed living farmers or family members of the remaining farmers. Of the 15 total, we interviewed 9 for a total of 11 interviews. These involved the farmers and spouses themselves, adult children of deceased farmers, adult grandchildren of deceased farmers, and a mother of a farmer.

The interviews took on a life of themselves, so to speak. Arrangements had been made, we arrived generally on time, or if we were not going to make it, we’d make a courtesy call, and then we’d arrive and begin to set up. Shoun handled all of the technical, camera, filming-related issues. I handled explanations, honoraria, signatures, and questions. Charla was marvelous for helping us get these things together. Then, we’d move toward the cameras, with note pad and questions in hand, we’d begin the interview once Shoun was squared away.  The interview would generally continue start to finish though there were times when we would need to stop for a break of some sort of other. Then we would finish.

After finishing the interview, Shoun would take portraits of the farmers and families. He would then walk the land with or without the farmers and families, taking what is called “b-roll” footage. Charla and I would oftentimes help him with his equipment. Sometimes, we would just stay out of the way. Other times we would chat with the farmers and families while Shoun was capturing what his eye said to capture.

Sometimes we would head into town for lunch, or sometimes we would chat a bit and then head on down the road. While I cannot speak for Shoun or Charla, I oftentimes found my head spinning and my heart moving into unique spaces and places.

At this point, the work actually continues. We believe that drone footage will help tell the stories. We have secured a photographer who understands racial issues and will help in telling the stories. Your financial support there is deeply appreciated. Along with that, there is a myriad of details to get done such as contacting folks whose names may or may not appear in the film, who may or may not want to speak for themselves, and all manner of other things.

While this is certainly longer than I’d intended to write today, it does give you a glimpse of the work to which you have contributed.  I’ll write more about gratitude later.