IN THIS ISSUE

By Thomas E. Kottke, MD, MSPH Editor-in-Chief, MetroDoctors

Safety is Privilege

A homicide rate that is eight times that of non-Hispanic whites. A many-times higher risk of being shot by police while unarmed. Unemployment. Poverty. This is what young Black men in America are facing. In Between the World and Me, Ta-Nehisi Coates tells his 15-year-old son that, growing up in Baltimore, he was in constant fear of violence at the street corners and from the police. The experience of youth and young adults in North Minneapolis makes clear that this same fear permeates the lives of Black, brown, and Indigenous people in our own community. On top of the violence, stack inadequate educational opportunity, unemployment, and poverty. In response, we’ve focused this issue of MetroDoctors on the intersection of poverty, race, and public safety. When the editorial board decided on this theme, we immediately asked Dr. Etienne Djevi to co-edit the content with me. Dr. Djevi, in addition to providing infectious disease consultation in the Allina Health system, is deeply engaged in promoting equity in his community of Roseville. He both serves on and chaired the Human Rights, Inclusion, and Engagement Commission (HRIEC) and is a member of the Multicultural Advisory Committee (MAC) with the Roseville Police Department. In recognition of his contributions, he was nominated to be Grand Marshal of the 2022 Rose Parade. I cannot think of a better person to curate a discussion of public safety, particularly as it intersects with race and poverty. Mentorship matters. Its positive impact on the lives of young people of color surfaces repeatedly in the literature. A personal story that is close to home proves this point: Over the past several years I’ve had the pleasure and privilege of knowing Dr. Dennis Cross, a colleague at work and a member of the MetroDoctors editorial board. Dennis grew up in Milwaukee and Mississippi, and after Dennis returned from his tour of duty in Viet Nam and Cambodia, he went to college because he could use some of his GI Bill money to pay for his car. Failing in his humanities and social science courses because of his Black Panther politics, he met Helen Kittsley. I want to share (I have his permission) what he wrote: I will never forget Helen Kittsley, “…Dennis I used to be a racist, but I’m not anymore” (Student advisor/counselor) at the University of Wisconsin 1972. This was before it was

“fashionable” (my words) to ally with Black Men...She knew the lay of the land... meaning she understood the white male teacher mentality and gave me specific tools to navigate structural racism inherent in the delivery and teaching of college courses. “Take all Science and Math courses. I will help you register for them.” Fast forward 24 months and she asked me one day. “Have you ever thought about going to medical school?” I said “What?” The ”What?” became a long and successful career in the practice of nephrology and general internal medicine in a southern suburb of Minneapolis. I hope you appreciate the articles in this issue of MetroDoctors, and the real-time stories of the violence being experienced today by the members of our Black, brown and Indigenous communities. Over the summer, TCMS became ABH: Advocates for Better Health. Our mission is focused on creating a healthy, equitable, and thriving state by engaging physicians and medical students in community-driven public health initiatives. Join us in using your skills and resources in mentorship and advocacy. And, if you see a young person of color who would benefit from mentoring, don’t just say something, do it! Mentor. Advocate. Join me. Join us. Advocate for better health.