Black Nurse Sues Hospital for Honoring Racist Dad's Request

In Flint, Michigan, a Black nurse is suing the hospital where she works for submitting to a request from a father that his child, who was in the NICU, not be cared for by any African-American nurses. After the nurse, Tonya Battle, introduced herself to the family has the child's nurse, the father reportedly asked to speak to her manager. He allegedly showed the charge nurse a swastika tattoo and made the request, which was then documented on the child's chart. She is suing for emotional damage and humiliation.

For the father to make such a request is fine: that's his business; however, for the hospital to honor such a demand is asinine. Yeah, you can argue that he has a right to demand who can care for his child, but it is the hospital's responsibility to make sure the child gets the best care and that their employees are treated fairly, and to submit to the discrimination of its employees is just irresponsible.

I have been reading some of the comments in the above link, and some have made comments of how the man was justified because they had experiences with African-American nurses having an attitude, or how they are not as competent as others. One even said that professors don't give Blacks failing grades because we will play the race card! Let me tell you something: it has been said but at least one of my former pharmacy school classmates that certain Blacks in our class only got into pharmacy school because of Affirmative Action. If that is so, then why is it that the four Blacks in the class all graduated on time (with two even having babies while in school) and with honors?! And don't tell me the professors were scared to give us failing grades because of our race. In that case, there would have been no way we could have passed our board exams!

I have also been discriminated against as a healthcare professional because of my race when I worked in the retail setting. I know that people get discriminated against every day for a number of reasons; however, to be discriminated against because of race is a delicate issue because of America's history with racism. It is also unfair to use race as a a factor to judge someone on because race is something that cannot be changed--someone can't help that they are the race that they are. It's not about simply "hurting someone's feelings," it is deeper than that. If you have ever experienced racism you would understand.

The hospital shouldn't have allowed discrimination to go on. They should have brought the situation up to Ms. Battle and the other Black woman and let them have a choice in the matter instead of sequestering them away from the child. Mr. Racist needs to realize that there are different people all around him. One day, someone of a different race is going to care for him or help him in some way, and he really won't have a choice in the matter. I wish I could say that I didn't want to deal with White people (not really, but just for argument sake). I know that would be impossible because they will always be around.

I think that Ms. Battle has a right to sue. What do you think?

Company President Smacks Toddler on a Plane, Calls Him a 'Nigger Baby'

Joe Rickey Hundley, president of an aircraft parts manufacturer in Idaho, is now out of a job after he allegedly slapped a 19-month-old boy while telling the mother to "shut that nigger baby up."

The baby was crying due to the change in altitude on the flight's final descent. Hundley ended up scratching the baby boy under the right eye when he slapped him, causing him to cry even louder.

Apparently, he was intoxicated.

The company that he worked for, AGC Aerospace and Defense, said that they are embarrassed by his actions, but would not say if he resigned or was let go.

If convicted, he faces up to a year in prison.

Simply disgusting. There is nothing more to say...

The President's Inauguration on MLK Day

Yesterday was an important day in history: not only was it MLK Day, but it was the day of the second  presidential inauguration for Barack Obama. America has really came a long way from the days of MLK; however, it still has a ways to go. There is still a lot of bigotry going on, not only toward minorities, but toward homosexuals as well.

In 2009 I sent out a race relations survey to some of my Facebook friends for a book that I am in the process of writing, and one of the questions on it was whether they thought that racism had been eradicated with the election of a black president. Obviously it had not, although one responder claimed it had. Even though the survey responses were anonymous, I have a pretty good idea who that responder was. Apparently, he chooses not to acknowledge racism both blatant and subtle. I tend to believe the contrary: that the election of a black president has made racism more prevalent and recognizable. I've seen the true colors of some of my "friends" and other people that I know with Obama's election and re-election, and it seems to me that even though they may not identify themselves has being racist they may have "racist tendencies."

Putting the bouts of racism aside, I am more proud now than when Obama was first elected four years ago. It shouldn't matter if you agree with his politics or not, you have to be proud of the fact that most Americans were willing to look passed the color of his skin and elect a black man as POTUS not once, but twice! This was MLK's dream. If you are not proud, well (in my opinion) you are un-American and probably racist.