In her new memoir “Legacy,” physician Uché Blackstock delves into the pervasive racism in healthcare and its role in perpetuating health disparities among Black Americans. Drawing from her personal experiences and her mother’s journey as a Black female doctor, Blackstock highlights the structural inequities that have led to poorer health outcomes for communities of color.
Blackstock recounts witnessing racism against Black patients and outdated medical practices, such as underestimating kidney function in Black individuals, which excluded them from transplant lists. She contrasts her residency at the underresourced Kings County Hospital, serving predominantly patients of color, with her later work at the well-funded, mostly white NYU Langone’s Tisch Hospital, underscoring the stark disparities in healthcare funding.
Through her memoir, Blackstock urges readers to take action against injustice and racism in their own communities, emphasizing the need for collective efforts to address health inequities. “Legacy” serves as a powerful call to action, shedding light on the historical and contemporary factors contributing to the disproportionate burden of illness and mortality among Black Americans.
See “Powerful Legacies: New Memoir Explores Racism in Health Care and Beyond” (February 22, 2024)