Discrimination Reflection: Analyzing Damon Tweedy's 'Black Man' Book

This essay reflects on three significant situations depicted in Damon Tweedy's 'Black Man in a White Coat,' focusing on racial discrimination faced by the author during his time at Duke University School of Medicine. The first situation involves experiencing racial stereotypes as a working-class black student. The second highlights the mental pressure from myths about the prevalence of diseases among black people. The third addresses the challenge of being assigned primarily to black patients, limiting exposure to diverse patient populations. The essay concludes that Tweedy's success demonstrates overcoming racial, social, and educational barriers, offering insights into transcending discrimination.

Running Head: REFLECTION ON DISCRIMINATION
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Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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The purpose of this study is find out three unique situation depicted in the book- ‘Black
Man in a White Coat' written by Damon Tweedy and reflect on those situations. This book is the
reflection of Damon’s life at Duke University School of Medicine.
Situation 1:
Three first situations is the insult received by a working class black child, at the time
of his encounter with one of his professors at school (Tweedy 2015).
Summary of Situation 1:
The first situation shows how being a ‘working-class black kid’, Damon became the
victim of the racial stereotype, prejudices and the fruitless myths nourished by American Elite
class about the ‘Blacks’ during his life at Duke University Medical School (Tweedy 2015).
Reflection of Situation 1:
An in depth analysis of the above mentioned situation helps me to reflect on the
tumultuous situation that Dr. Tweedy faced when he started his career at Duke University
Medical School, attended mainly by the elite class white American. Dr. Tweedy belonged to an
Afro-American family of working class. Hence, became the victim of discriminations, in terms
of race and financial condition. Later he elaborated in his book that, how astonishing and
frustrating, it was to be judged only by skin color. In this context he had mentioned an incident,
where, one of his professors Dr. Gale asked him, whether he was there to fix the lights, when
Tweedy denied, then Dr. Gale enquired him of his purpose to stay at the class in a tone of
humiliation (Tweedy 2015).

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Situation 2:
The second significant situation shows the frustration of Tweedy for being bombarded
with the message that, there are several diseases which can be more common among people with
dark skin (Tweedy 2015).
Summary of Situation 2:
This situation indicates at the mental pressure felt by Tweedy due to the fake myths like
blacks were more likely to be affected by some of the dreadful diseases as compared to the
whites (Tweedy 2015).
Reflection of Situation 2:
An in depth analysis of the above mentioned situation helps me to reflect on the
situation of mental conflicts of Tweedy. I believe due to the horrible myth that some of the
diseases affect the ‘Blacks’ more as compared to the whites; whenever, Tweedy came to know
about a completely new disease through a lecture, he used to get afraid. I also believe that his
frustration was due to the implicit recognition of the repetitive disparity or the discrimination that
he faced (Tweedy 2015).
.
Situation 3:
According to the third unique situation, elaborated by Tweedy, It was a challenge to him,
to perform the duties of a black physician and take care of black patients (Tweedy 2015).

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Summary of Situation 3:
The above situation reflects the extremity of the racial, discrimination, as being a black physician
Tweedy was assigned the responsibility of the treatment of black population (Tweedy 2015).
Reflection of Situation 3:
An in depth analysis of the above mentioned situation helps me to reflect on the situation.
Tweedy was assigned with the responsibility of treating black people, which would refrain from
gaining the experience to foster effective communication with people from various race religion
and groups how to understand their languages and symbol while conducting medical treatment.
As Tweedy’s training was limited to black people only, he was deceived of the essential
experiences and learning a medical student gain during his or her clinical training (Tweedy
2015).
In the conclusion, it can be said that the book portray Tweedy’s reflection on the racial,
financial discrimination faced by Tweedy while studying medicine with the elite class in Duke
University School of Medicine. Along with he also mentioned the implication of different myths
regarding black people. Finally through hs success he had shown the ways through which black
people will be able to transcend all the barriers related to racial, social and educational
discrimination.

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References:
Tweedy, D., 2015. Black man in a white coat: A doctor's reflections on race and medicine.
Picador.

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Bibliography
Barnes & Noble (2019). Black Man in a White Coat: A Doctor's Reflections on Race and
Medicine|Paperback. [online] Barnes & Noble. Available at:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/black-man-in-a-white-coat-damon-tweedy/1120361133#/
[Accessed 28 May 2019].
Chicagotribune.com (2019). Chicago Tribune - We are currently unavailable in your region.
[online] Chicagotribune.com. Available at:
https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/books/ct-prj-black-man-in-a-white-coat-damon-
tweedy-20151001-story.html [Accessed 28 May 2019].
Tang, K., 2015. Black Man in a White Coat: A Doctor's Reflections on Race and Medicine.

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