The document is a response to the book "Cultural Competency for Health Professionals" discussing the health status and cultural experiences of Black Americans. It explores how slavery has impacted the Black population's health and culture. The author discusses their experience being misidentified and feelings about their Haitian heritage. Health professionals need cultural competency to understand factors like the historical impacts of slavery on food, identity, and health issues within the Black community to avoid offending patients and improve health outcomes.

1. Response to ‘Cultural Competency for Health Professional”
Roselaure Anstral
AAS 150-G: Introduction to Africana Studies
Professor Dr. Patti Rose
March 5, 2013

2. Anstral 1
The health status of the Black/African American population in the United States of
America is not a secret. In comparison to the White and Asian population it is very poor. There
are many factors that play a role in this. This essay is a response to the book Cultural
Competency for Health Professional by Patti R. Rose. This book addresses the interaction with
minorities and health professionals in terms of cultural competency. One thing that is mention in
Rose’s book is slavery and its effects on the black population. I explore this to an extent.
The History of Blacks/African Americans and why it matters?
The unique circumstance under which the ancestors of most Black/African American
people arrived in the Americas is chattel slavery1. This is very important because although we, as
a nation, will love to believe that slavery is behind us, in actuality it is not. Slavery affects the
health of the black people in the United States of America. I remember when I went to the clinic
for my annual checkup a year ago, my physician told me that due to my weight that I may
develop diabetes and that African Americans have the highest case of diabetes. Two things about
what he said bothered me. One, that African Americans had high cases of diabetes. According to
the American Diabetes Association in 2009 it was reported that 12.6% of non-Hispanic blacks2
and 11.8% of Hispanics over the age of 203 in the U.S.A. have been diagnosed with diabetes.
Now I must include the Hispanic population because there have been a distinction in this country
between non-Hispanic blacks and Hispanic blacks. Thus the real percentage for blacks is much
higher, because at the end of the day we are all black4. Compared to our white counter parts,
7.1% of non-Hispanic whites5, it is disturbing.
The second thing that offends me is the fact that he basically called me African
American. Now I know I am of African descent and that I am American, but the Haitian culture

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and the African American culture are two different things. Being that my culture is a big part of
who I am, it offended me when he called me African American. I am fine with being called
African descent, Haitian descent, Haitian or black because they are more correct to whom I see
myself to be. But when I hear African American I think of a different culture that I am not
familiar with, and I prefer to be affiliated with the culture of my parents, the Haitian culture.
These two issues are rooted to slavery. We have inherited our ancestors’ conditions and
certain mindsets that they developed during slavery. The reasons are because, number (No.) 1,
the food. I learned in grade school, during black history month, that slaves were given the scraps
that their white counterparts would not dare eat. Basically they were given garbage. When I say
garbage I am referring to the unhealthy portions of the animal such as pig feet and intestines; in
which they made very tasty with spices and such. I see this with my mother cooking, which is
unhealthy but very tasty.
No. 2, we have also inherited our pride for the places our ancestors were dropped off. I
feel a sense of pride to be Haitian because my ancestors fought and won their freedom. We have
made a new culture and it is just offensive to refer to me outside of my culture. As a health
professional if you are unfamiliar with this understanding or the basics of black people’s history
you may offend them.6This may prevent them from going back to you for health care. Being that
we, blacks, are the largest minority in this country7 it is critical for health professionals to
understand our history. They should make it their business to know and understand this history.
An Offensive Situation
In a situation where a medical assistant offends a black patient in regards to her hair is
unthinkable. Yet, it is very possible to occur. I believe that the medical assistant was out of line;

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just because of the history we, black people, have with our hair. It is truly a love and hate
situation. From personal experience, us black people have been taught that our natural hair is
ugly and unprofessional. Yet, we use our hair to represent so much about who we are. In the
lecture I learned that in Africa, a person’s hair may represent their social status and wealth. Hair
is very significant to any culture. Just a few days ago, I had my afro out and a girl who I am
friend comes up to me. She is white-Hispanic, and she touches my hair stating ‘it feels like a
sheep’, I reply that I do not know what a sheep feels like but that I will keep that in mind. I did
not know what to say to that comment. I wasn’t upset about it because I feel that she wasn’t
trying to be hurtful, but she compared my hair to animal fur. It was rude. So for someone to
come at any person regardless of race, and make a rude comment about their hair is uncalled for
and rude. So I can relate to this experience.
I agree with the comments that are mentioned in regards to this case, because I have lived
the rude comments and I understand the situations and background behind them. My black,
female supervisor told me that my Afro is unprofessional; my mother told me it is ugly. Both of
them were coming towards a hateful place, but not directed to me really but to their own battles
with their hair. This is how I see it. It is ingrain in them that black hair is not ‘good’ hair8.
Understanding the Black Population
No. 1, there are African Americans/Blacks who do not realize that they are of African
descent or who do not accept that fact9.It is always disturbing to me personally that there are
blacks who do not want to accept this. This is because, I feel that the stigma of being African is
that you are uncivilized or ugly or dumb or whatever it is nowadays. It has become something
that we, as a population, are ashamed of. It is truly a sad situation. No. 2, “there is disagreement

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with the OMB categorization’10 among the black community. This may be because some blacks
are mix with different ethnicity and they do not see themselves as being black or African
descent. This is very important to understand, again, because as a person who lives in the United
States of America, there is a chance of interaction with a black person if you have not already
and to avoid unnecessary hostility you must understand these facts and the basic history of
Blacks/African Americans.
Conclusion
Slavery is still very relevant and should not be pushed under a rug; it affects the
Black/African Americans conditions and mindset of the 21st century. That is the situation and we
need to deal with it to increase the health status of blacks in this country.

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Notes
1. Patti R. Rose. Cultural Competency for the Health Professional. Burlington, MA: Jones
& Bartlett Learning, 2012: 9
2. American Diabetes Association. "Diabetes basics: Diabetes Statistics, 2012."
http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/diabetes-statistics/
3. Ibid.
4. Patti R. Rose. Cultural Competency for the Health Professional. Burlington, MA: Jones
& Bartlett Learning, 2012: 9
5. American Diabetes Association. "Diabetes basics: Diabetes Statistics, 2012."
http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/diabetes-statistics/
6. Patti R. Rose. Cultural Competency for the Health Professional. Burlington, MA: Jones
& Bartlett Learning, 2012: 9
7. Ibid.
8. Patti R. Rose. Cultural Competency for the Health Professional. Burlington, MA: Jones
& Bartlett Learning, 2012: 121
9. Patti R. Rose. Cultural Competency for the Health Professional. Burlington, MA: Jones
& Bartlett Learning, 2012: 10
10. Ibid

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Bibliography
American Diabetes Association. "Diabetes basics: Diabetes Statistics, 2012."
http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/diabetes-statistics/
Rose, Patti R. Cultural Competency for the Health Professional. Burlington, MA: Jones &
Bartlett Learning, 2012: 9-10, 18, 120-122