Not Just a Black Body
The Details:
Not Just A Black Body, Inc. was founded by Dr. Magdala Chery to address racial injustice in healthcare, driven by the tragic loss of both her parents to COVID-19 in 2020.
My Approach:
The organization highlights the systemic health disparities affecting Black communities, emphasizing the intersection of racism, misinformation, and a lack of accountability in healthcare. Using my lived experiences, I aimed to reveal opportunities for prioritizing marginalized communities within healthcare. By sharing firsthand insights into the structural inequities I've observed, I emphasize the nuanced, often overlooked challenges these communities face. This approach highlights specific systemic gaps and drives a deeper understanding of how tailored strategies can dismantle health disparities. It underscores the urgency of empathetic, community-centered reforms and informs meaningful, actionable changes that are both inclusive and responsive to the unique needs of marginalized populations.
For more, visit Not Just a Black Body
The Outcome:
Not Just a Black Body has made a significant impact by advocating for equitable pandemic solutions, policy reforms, and meaningful engagement with historically marginalized communities. Through collaborations with community partners and organizations, the initiative has helped shift the conversation on health equity, particularly addressing vaccine hesitancy. By leveraging multiple platforms, it has amplified the voices of underserved populations, advancing awareness and driving systemic change to ensure that public health solutions are inclusive and just.
Associated Links:
LA Times Contribution – “Doctors really want to vaccinate Black people against COVID19. Unequal access fuels mistrust. – March 2021 | Doctors really want to vaccinate Black people against COVID-19. Unequal access to shots fuels mistrust
Commonwealth Fund Not Just a Black Body – Feb 2021 | “Not Just a Black Body”: How COVID-19 Hit Home for One Doctor | Commonwealth Fund
Interview with Roland S. Martin — Dec 2020 | ‘Normal Doesn’t Exist For Us Anymore’: Dr. Chery On Reality Of COVID, Losing Parents To Pandemic
