As we end the sixth day of nationwide protests against the killing of George Floyd, I wanted to reach out to express my support to the pediatricians in our chapter as our nation has plunged into a dark period of our history. I personally have felt frustrated and angry at yet another overt act of racism against the Black members of our community. I grew up in Memphis with acts of racism around me all throughout my childhood. However, with the recent events this past week, I see rays of hope at the waves of peaceful protests throughout our communities calling for permanent change to the deep-seated institutional and structural racism that have led to this and many other atrocities against the Black community.
If you are struggling with making sense of what has been happening or need to be connected to any resources, please reach out to our chapter. We are aware that many pediatric practices are struggling, first from the economic burden of the COVID-19 pandemic, and now if you are in an area affected by the curfews or if you personally are dealing with the stress of the current times. We want to be there for you and help in any way we can.
Martin Luther King, Jr. said "We may have all come on different ships, but we're in the same boat now." As socially aware, mission-driven pediatricians who share a love and caring for children, I think of us as all in the same boat. I hope that we can help and support each other during these challenging times and work together for a brighter future for ourselves and our children.
