Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is well known for his passionate and thoughtful speeches that examined racial discrimination in the United States, the negative impacts of poverty and a need for communities to rally behind and support vulnerable populations. One of his most well known speeches, ‘I Have a Dream,’ occurred on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on August 28, 1963 during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.
Dr. King’s speeches primarily focused on education, access to housing, racial desegregation in public and private spaces and building an equitable country. But on March 25, 1966, Dr. King spoke at a meeting of the Medical Committee for Human Rights where he discussed racial inequities and health. The full transcript for this speech has not been discovered, though fragments of it were printed in newspapers. Similar to Dr. King’s other speeches, his speech at the meeting not only addressed the harsh realities of people of color, particularly Black Americans, in the country, but also urged the listeners to educate themselves on these inequities and pursue action to dismantle systemic oppression.
Due to the lack of a speech transcript, there are different iterations of Dr. King’s words and thoughts on health inequity. Professor Charlene Galarneau uses the following quote in her article ‘Getting King’s Words Right’:
“We are concerned about the constant use of federal funds to support this most notorious expression of segregation. Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health is the most shocking and the most inhuman because it often results in physical death.
I see no alternative to direct action and creative nonviolence to raise the conscience of the nation.” (Galarneau, 2018, p. 5)
Galarneau states that these words were spoken during a press conference before the annual meeting and were documented by news sources such as the Associated Press. We may never know Dr. King’s exact words during the press conference or during his speech, but this quote shows that Dr. King understood the pressing need to address injustices in health.
During the time of his speech, Black patients and healthcare providers were facing widespread discrimination in healthcare centers. Organizations like the Medical Committee for Human Rights sought to address the healthcare needs of underserved communities, while also building healthcare centers that would continue the work once the committee’s healthcare workers relocated. “A predominantly white organization, the committee would continue to assist civil rights workers in Mississippi and other southern states but shifted its focus to deal with health problems facing thousands of poor blacks who lacked any medical services.” (Dittmer, 2014, p. 746)
Dr. King’s speech highlighted another area of society that suffered from racial and economic discrimination, thus furthering the divide between the privileged and underserved. As Galarneau writes in her article “King’s words remind us that health and health care are social goods at the community and national levels. As such health and health care are socially created and require social responsibility in a collective agreement about what constitutes health in/justice.”(Galarneau, 2018, p. 7)
Dr. King’s remarks are also a call to action. He believed that everyone had a role to play in dismantling injustices domestically and globally. He strongly encouraged people to seek out information about the issues related to racism and economic inequality and apply this knowledge to establish and maintain inclusive communities.
As we all spend the MLK holiday weekend reflecting on the words and legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Himmelfarb Library would like to offer resources and promote events that build upon the advocacy work that Dr. King participated in. Himmelfarb Library’s Diversity and Disparities in Health Care, Diversity in Dermatology and Humanities & Health Collection highlight library resources that explore topics related to inequities in health care and how to build a more inclusive health care system.
On Wednesday, January 25 at noon, the Anti-Racism Coalition will hold the 7th Annual SMHS Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Lecture Series–Advancing the Dream: Why We Can’t Wait. Milken Institute School of Public Health professor, Dr. Wendy Ellis, will participate in a conversation about “race, advocacy, and finding your voice in the fight for racial justice…” Registration for this event is now open.
If you are interested in taking action to address health inequities, consider joining local student or professional organizations such as White Coats for Black Lives, Antiracism Nursing Student Alliance or Black Public Health Student Network. Collaborate with your peers to find creative solutions to teach the public about health injustices or search for local issues that may need your support.
Dr. King understood that a coalition was required to build an inclusive and equitable future and we can honor his legacy by connecting with like-minded community members and seeking out their advice and feedback.
References:
Galarneau, C. (2018). Getting King’s Words Right. Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 29(1), 5–8. https://doi.org/10.1353/hpu.2018.0001
Dittmer, J. (2014). The Medical Committee for Human Rights. AMA Journal of Ethics, 16(9), 745-748. https://doi.org/10.1001/virtualmentor.2014.16.9.mhst1-1409
