COVID Vaccine Worries
For the DMC, BLM is Black Lab Mice, y’all — for realz!
Black people traditionally don’t fuck with hospitals. I used to think that was just some superstitious bullshit. Part ‘cause my moms was a nurse and I had a pretty healthy relationship with the world o’ medicine. Then I had a panic attack and took myself to DMC’s emergency room. I learned what can happen when a random Black person shows up at the hospital.
First, they tried to admit me, even after it was clear it couldn’t have been a heart attack. Then, after stowing me in a corner for hours, they took me down into a ratchet ass basement area for what they called a “stress test.” I was given an injection meant to make me feel like I full on was having a heart attack, while they casual took readings. When I told them I felt like I might be dying, they gave me another injection.
I didn’t think much of it. I figured it was routine, until I got slapped with a $10,000 bill. My insurance company didn’t cover the experimental procedure! Experiment?! I’d been a frigging lab rat and ain’t a soul asked for my consent, or explained that shit wasn’t covered by insurance. How many other people they tried that on? How many other experiments being done on folks in basement room without they permission?
It ain’t just Detroit Medical Center. I ran into similar shit with my first therapist. He ain’t wanna give me a referral to a psychiatrist, ‘cause he ain’t believe in medication. I was having panic attacks that felt like heart attacks! No wonder Ms. K, my neighbor who survived cancer, says she won’t be one o’ the first trying out the COVID-19 vaccine. She remembered rumors of the polio vaccine was tested on the children of African diplomats.
Historically, Black people have been lab mice in the U. S. Some may recall the Tuskegee experiment, where Black men were left untreated for syphilis and studied. All of modern gynecology is owed to Black women who endured experiments without anesthesia. Black folks is justified in their fear of the medical profession that historically has preyed on marginalized people to do the dirty work and to extract wealth. Shit, I’m with you, Ms. K. I’ll wait until rich White folks are getting the vaccine before I line up for a shot.
