“A certain philosophy of care may be inconsistent with the cultural norms of a particular group, so they’re reluctant to adopt it. For example, because many Black families are likely to seek—or forego—a particular intervention or resource, there may be an assumption that this is true for all Black families. But the beliefs and lived experiences can be significantly different between African American and other Black people, which therefore influence their attitudes toward health care. Not all Black people are culturally African American.
“Remember, it wasn’t until 1965 that racial segregation in hospitals was outlawed, and it took several more years for some hospitals to comply, so there are generations of African Americans who experienced and remember ‘separate but equal’ health care. It takes a lot of work to undo the harm that’s been done—it doesn’t simply disappear because a law has been put in place.” - Karen Bullock, a Boston College School of Social Work Professor who was honored with the Richard Payne Outstanding Achievement in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award from the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM) | READ MORE: https://on.bc.edu/KarenBullock