Jasmine Brown — Twice as Hard

The author expresses gratitude towards friends and supporters, particularly highlighting the contributions of Deirdre and Janice Verity, during a notable book talk event.
The talk centers around the author's debut book titled "Twice as Hard: The Story of Black Women from the Civil War to the 21st Century." This book is a comprehensive exploration of the historical and contemporary challenges faced by Black women, particularly within the medical field.
The research for this book commenced in 2018, following the author’s receipt of a prestigious Rhodes Scholarship, which enabled the author to move to the UK to pursue a master's degree focused on the history of science, medicine, and technology.
Initially, the author's research plan was to create a dissertation centered around the barriers encountered by Black men striving to enter the field of medicine, but this focus evolved significantly.

The author shares personal narratives of encountering prejudice within the scientific and medical communities, which fueled a deeper desire to analyze both microaggressions and macroaggressions experienced by individuals in these spaces.
The limited availability of literature discussing the specific experiences of Black female physicians inspired the decision to study and document the unique barriers faced by Black women in medicine, an often overlooked aspect of the healthcare discourse.

The voice and story of Dr. May Chen resonate profoundly with the author, symbolizing the historical struggles faced by Black women in medicine and academia.
Dr. Chen's narrative is depicted as one of resilience and triumph against systemic challenges:
- Born in 1896 in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, she emerged as a trailblazer in the medical field.
- She was the first Black woman to graduate from NYU School of Medicine, defying the odds stacked against her.
- Dr. Chen faced significant racial discrimination throughout her medical training and career, highlighting the systemic barriers that existed during her time.

Dr. Chen’s family background is notable:
- Her father escaped from slavery at the young age of 11, emphasizing a legacy of resilience and the pursuit of freedom over past pain.
- Her mother, Lulu, was a staunch advocate for education for May, despite the systemic barriers they faced, foreshadowing a commitment to intellectual and professional success.
- Dr. Chen encountered challenges stemming from the Plessy v. Ferguson ruling, which institutionalized racial segregation in education.

In 1900, the statistics on the number of Black female physicians starkly illustrated the inequality in the medical profession:
- Only 160 Black female physicians compared to 88,000 white male, 3,500 white female, and 1,600 Black male physicians were recorded.
Dr. Chen’s graduation was met with rejection from residency programs and hospitals that refused to hire her due to her race and gender.
She persevered through isolation and sought collaboration with male physicians to continue her practice in a field that marginalized her presence.

Despite the barriers, Dr. Chen opened her own medical practice focused on serving Black patients:
- She creatively delivered care in home settings, using makeshift operating areas, showcasing innovation in the face of adversity.
- Her story is one of adaptability, making the best use of available resources for surgical procedures.

Similarly, Dr. Dorothy Farabee, who was born in Norfolk, VA in 1898, exemplified the struggles faced by Black women in medicine:
- Farabee relocated to Boston, seeking better opportunities amid a hostile landscape for Black medical students in the South.

Dr. Farabee’s pursuit of medical education was fraught with challenges:
- Attending Tufts University, she navigated a predominantly male medical school environment, being the only Black woman among five women total in her class.
- Gender discrimination and marginalization formed a substantial part of her educational experience.

The camaraderie and collaboration among her female classmates were crucial for their collective success:
- They studied together to surmount the exclusion from essential learning opportunities, fostering a supportive network.
- All five women graduated with honors, with Dorothy ranking as the top student in her class, illustrating their exceptional perseverance against adversity.

securing a residency proved exceedingly difficult for Dorothy:
- Her applications were often overlooked, filled before hers due to entrenched racial and gender biases.
- Unlike many of her peers, she lacked family resources to facilitate entry into medical opportunities, a major disadvantage in her career path.

Dr. Farabee remained actively engaged in grassroots efforts to address the needs of underserved communities:
- A significant part of her legacy involved leading the Alpha Kappa Alpha's Mississippi Health Project during the Great Depression, targeting health disparities through mobile clinics and community health initiatives.

Her enduring impact within her community involved a continuous fight against systemic discrimination:
- Dr. Farabee held a prominent role at Howard University, where she furthered her advocacy for Black health and empowerment.
- She faced marginalization in leadership roles, which were even more pronounced due to her identity as a woman in a predominantly male-dominated field.

Dr. Farabee extended her influence by participating in national and global health initiatives:
- She received support from notable figures like Dr. Mordecai Wyatt Johnson, which aided her journey towards leadership in various national organizations.

The evidence of systemic barriers for Black women in medicine remains a pressing issue:
- The need for increased awareness towards racial disparities in healthcare and improved representation is imperative.
- The author advocates for mentorship and community support as essential drivers for transformative change within the medical field.

"Twice as Hard" seeks to honor the monumental legacy of Black female physicians:
- It aims to inspire future generations by illustrating the importance of inclusion and representation in medicine while highlighting the historical significance and ongoing challenges faced by Black women in the field.

During the Q&A session, audience members reflect on the contemporary barriers that Black women encounter within the medical profession:
- Discussions involved the lingering legacy of medical schools and the pervasive nature of systemic racism.
- Personal stories of resilience among Black women pursuing medical careers today were shared, emphasizing the continuous fight for equality and representation in healthcare.