The Other Wes Moore; One Name, Two Fates
Book by: Wes Moore
Chapters 1-3 Blog

Racism in healthcare

“The Other Wes Moore” has been a delight to read. More than just schoolwork, this book is doing a great job in reminding me how much I love storytelling. Its thought-provoking fragments from the characters’ childhoods to their journeys towards adulthood make you think deeply about one’s unique course of life, and about the delicate decision-making which influences that path. Furthermore, learning about the characters’ experiences as black individuals in America was one of the main takeaways for me, and that has opened my eyes even more in relation to their struggles.

Firstly, the segments in the book where the author describes the racism that his father experienced in the hospital were quite shocking (Chapter 1, pages 12-15). Not surprising, but still very shocking. Inadequate health care as a result of racism was one of the themes that my group and I discussed in class as well. We feel strongly that it was an unfair and unacceptable reality, which unfortunately occurs even in present days.

The experience of Wes Moore’s father reminded me of this article I read a while ago on Instagram about inadequate medical care being a factor in the maternal mortality rate of black women in the U.S… That is another narrative related to inadequate healthcare as a result of racism - which I made sure to share with my peers in class - and those terrifying rates are proof of the work that has yet to be done in that direction.

Speaking of black women, it was really overwhelming to read about the stories and the sacrifices of the mothers of both Wes Moore-s. Just like the author mentions on his dedication page, you can truly see how their mothers shaped their journeys to manhood. Despite having all the odds against them, these women did everything they had to do in order to provide their children with good opportunities in life. Thus, it was riveting to learn about these women’s distinct experiences on top of racism, violence, and discouragement, even if they were secondary characters in the story. 

Moreover, as an example of racism in healthcare, there are actual studies finding that many white medical students wrongly believe that black people have a higher pain tolerance compared to others. The fact that those kinds of opinions and that level of ignorance is present in today’s society is just intolerable. Whether inadequate healthcare is driven from factors inside the healthcare system or outside of it does not conceal the unethical treatment of black people in healthcare.  

“Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health is the most shocking and the most inhumane.”
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

This quote by Dr. Martin Luther King accumulates the painful truth and the dishonor of inadequate healthcare. While I am sure that “The Other Wes Moore” will jump to other important themes during the other chapters, I appreciate the author starting off the book with a transparent illustration of his father’s experience in the hospital, therefore speaking out about such an impactful event in his family’s story. I hope this book will make every reader fathom the pain and the scars that injustice and discrimination leave on these communities.