I am interested in taking a travel assignment in either Memphis or Nashville and was interested in knowing if any black nurses could tell me how their experience went. The reason why I ask is because I have heard some horror stories about how black nurses are treated in the south. For that reason alone I tend to stick to the east coast and california. My daughter is attending college in Tn and I would like to be close to her especially around the holidays.
I am a RN 1/2 Hispanic, 1/2 German. I am blond with blue eyes. Well, I experienced the worst reverse racisim ever in Southern CA at a big well known hospital in their Psych ER. I was the only white person working there except for the Docs and LAPD that brought the patients in. All other staff was Black and black from Nigeria. They treated me like a dog. When I'd walk on that unit I could feel the hate. I will never, ever forget that experience. I had no recourse, the manager was Nigerian, the HR dept was run by Nigerians. It was a real eye opener. I spent 3 years serving our country in the US Army and experienced the same reverse racism. It's ugly, and it's changed my perspective on how the world operates.
FYI the original post is years old, but I do want to respond to this. As far as "reverse racism" goes I think everyone agrees that mistreating someone because of their race, appearance, accent, religion, whatever, is WRONG and unacceptable. That being said, from the way you are phrasing things (e.g. having no recourse because the place was "run by Nigerians") it seems as though you may have brought some existing negative attitudes with you to the Southern CA hospital. All the research shows (and my experience verifies) that people can sense this prejudice without your ever saying anything overt, and it may explain some of what you experienced.
If in fact you and/or other non-black people were being discriminated against or subjected to racial slurs or insults because of your skin color, and management did not support you and discipline/dismiss the offenders, you have legitimate reason to take legal recourse (and should!). If, however, what you keep experiencing is all of the black staff being cold towards you - it seems far more likely that there is something going on with you than that every last black person you meet is filled with hatred towards white people.
Recently went to Mississippi to work, my coworkers were 100% black and it was the worst experience of my life as a traveler. Without a doubt the most ignorant group of people I have ever been around and I am black. Check out the demographics and other facts about these cities/towns. Racism and ignorance comes in an assortment without warning labels. Do your homework but even that won't be a gurantee. I have always had better experiences in larger cities. Good luck!
Recently went to Mississippi to work, my coworkers were 100% black and it was the worst experience of my life as a traveler. Without a doubt the most ignorant group of people I have ever been around and I am black. Check out the demographics and other facts about these cities/towns. Racism and ignorance comes in an assortment without warning labels. Do your homework but even that won't be a gurantee. I have always had better experiences in larger cities. Good luck!
As a black person, you are using your first and only post ever to tell us all that the worst group of people you have ever experienced in life was ALL of your black coworkers in Mississippi? How many ignorant black people were there in all? Three? A hundred? Ignorant how? They didn't know how to do their jobs? They were racist to staff and patients? All of them?
Do you realize the power you have in describing yourself as a black person and then perpetuating this harmful stereotype?
Specializes in Hospice, ONC, Tele, Med Surg, Endo/Output.
Recently went to Mississippi to work, my coworkers were 100% black and it was the worst experience of my life as a traveler. Without a doubt the most ignorant group of people I have ever been around and I am black. Check out the demographics and other facts about these cities/towns. Racism and ignorance comes in an assortment without warning labels. Do your homework but even that won't be a gurantee. I have always had better experiences in larger cities. Good luck!
Go to Oakland, Ca Kaiser--tons of black nurses. Was so grateful when my assignment was cut.
singleumm
55 Posts
Have you thought about going into the government hospitals?