Written by Danisha Jefferson-Abye, MPH, LMT
March 10 marks 202 years since the birth of Harriet Tubman, the iconic heroine who bravely led dozens of people out of slavery.
This Harriet Tubman Day, let's remember her as more than just a historical figure. We look to her as a visionary, healer, and Union Army nurse who recognized that the achievement of our physical health was tied to the broader struggle for Black liberation. Let's look at.
This connection between health and freedom endures for all of us in Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. County as we strive to achieve both. There, Black and Indigenous communities tend to live shorter lives and are more likely to face health problems such as diabetes and heart disease. , compared to other communities such as stroke. Tubman's life continues to guide us as we seek to ensure a healthy future for our communities in the face of systems designed to keep us oppressed and sick. It will be given to you.
Her work as a nurse meant more than eliminating disease or addressing its symptoms. She cared for black soldiers and newly freed people, providing care that affirmed people's dignity. In a society where enslaved people are denied their most basic freedoms and where Black practitioners are frequently punished with murder, Ms. Tubman shares the gift of wisdom from her ancestors and embraces the healing tradition as an act of resistance. took over.
As an abolitionist and suffragist, she fought to restructure society and dismantle institutions such as slavery that robbed us of our bodily autonomy and ignored our humanity. Even after the Civil War, she continued to advocate for justice. She gave speeches on women's suffrage, civil rights, access to health care, and more. She created community institutions and healing spaces such as the Freedmen's School and the Harriet Tubman Home for Black Elders. Her revolutionary work was matched by her immense vision.
She will still be guiding in 2024.
When Black patients enter white medical institutions, we too often experience dehumanizing care. I have lost my loved ones to neglect and substandard care. As a healthcare worker and public health leader, I am not alone in hearing countless horrific stories of disenfranchisement, medical racism, and complete disregard for Black and Brown lives.
A recent national survey by the Commonwealth Fund and the African American Research Collaborative illustrates the dynamics that our communities know to be true. The study found that 47% of healthcare workers have witnessed racism against patients in their facilities, and nearly one in two said racism against patients was a major problem. This data helps explain why at least 25% of Black adults in King County lack regular primary care, even though 90% are insured. Many of us are opting out of a system that treats us like problems, disrespects traditional medicines, and imposes inferior and often harmful treatments on us.
Perhaps the most important lesson we can take from Harriet Tubman's work is that liberation makes us healthier. Extensive research shows that when people have more control and power over their lives, they are healthier. We need a comprehensive approach to health care that addresses the oppressive systems that make us sick. Culturally competent care must include dismantling harmful systems through public policy. Furthermore, solutions to improve health must come from those most affected.
Compared to many regions across the country, our region is rich in medical resources. But “well-resourced” means little when health disparities remain so pronounced and so many people still lack the care they need and deserve. This should serve as an encouragement to continue following Tubman's lead. In honor of Ms. Tubman, the Tubman Center for Health and Freedom is building a beacon of service to those left on the sidelines, a place where care is provided through the lens of liberation and Black love.
South Seattle Emerald is committed to holding space within our community for diverse perspectives, understanding that different perspectives do not negate mutual respect among community members.
The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by contributors on this website do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of Emerald or Emerald's official policies.
Danisha jefferson abbyMPH, LMT is the founder and chief operating officer of the Tubman Center for Health and Freedom.
📸 Featured image by Harvey Lindsley from the Library of Congress.
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