So we're doing a lot of thinking about getting Black people to take the vaccine. And ofc I totally understand why. The emphasis on Black medical professionals and Black faith leaders vocally supporting and planning to get the vaccine is a solid approach. But I have thoughts.

The repetition of the "historical medical racism->mistrust of medicine->establish trust through the aforementioned methods" narrative is starting to feel a little bit... ethnographic. A little bit "Best Practices for Dealing with The Blacks™"

If I got struck by lightning the last time I climbed a mountain, you get why I don't wanna go hiking with you. Will you convince me by having someone I trust climb the mountain? Or have someone I trust sit down and explain why it statistically shouldn't happen again?

Explain how lightning works? Does someone looking like me automatically mean that I trust them? Different people will respond to different things, we aren't dealing with a monolith. At the end of the day Black people are just people, and people want their questions answered.

So some finer points:
1. Mistrust comes from a variety of sources. It isn't all "Tuskegee happened and now I hate doctors". I asked my mother, she didn't mention doctors at all. It's the government she doesn't trust. Black folks have (valid) mistrust of all kinds of institutions.

2. Black people don't have to trust people just because they're Black. I am very aware of the social distance (haha) between more and less educated Black folks. It has made me feel isolated from my own family as the only one in the house with a degree. It's very real.

3. Some Black people will be moved by seeing their pastor get the poke in the arm. Some will be moved by an explanation of how we got the vaccine so fast. Some will be moved by an explanation of ingredients. Some will not be moved. Some need no convincing. Not a monolith.

4. And after COVID? What of the various other health outcomes that plague the Black community? Will medical racism, historical AND current, continue to be discussed? Will everyone learn about it in school? You want Black people to make changes for the public good.

Will medical professionals and protocol make changes for our good? Do you only care about Black people's wellness when yours is inextricably linked to it? If this conversation is not sustained, the net effect is feigned concern.

I hope you don't only want Black people to get vaccinated so we can get herd immunity and you can get back to the club.