Tamika Cross, a black female doctor, shared her recent experience with discrimination in a Facebook post that resulted in a worldwide trend on social media.
While on board a Delta flight, Cross was questioned and doubted of her professional experience as a passenger was in need of medical assistance.
“I'm sure many of my fellow young, corporate America working women of color can all understand my frustration when I say I'm sick of being disrespected,” Cross said.
The passenger was unresponsive two rows in front of Cross. The flight attendant asked for any “physicians on board.” Cross willingly volunteered, and the flight attendant questioned her authenticity.
“She said to me ‘oh no sweetie put your hand down, we are looking for actual physicians or nurses or some type of medical personnel, we don't have time to talk to you,’” Cross posted.
She continuously tried to explain that she was a real doctor and eventually the flight attendant asks for her credentials. Cross explains that she is an OB-GYN in Houston.
“Another ‘seasoned’ white male approaches the row and says he is a physician as well. She says to me ‘thanks for your help but he can help us, and he has his credentials’. (Mind you he hasn't shown anything to her. Just showed up and fit the "description of a doctor") I stay seated. Mind blown. Blood boiling,” she wrote.
Cross ended her post by saying, “She came and apologized to me several times and offering me sky miles. I kindly refused. This is going higher than her. I don't want sky miles in exchange for blatant discrimination. Whether this was race, age, gender discrimination, it's not right. She will not get away with this....and I will still get my sky miles.”
The post has almost 150,000 Facebook reactions and close to 50,000 shares.
The “description of a doctor” is what inspired the trending hashtag, #WhatADoctorLooksLike.
People showed their support on Twitter of Cross’ situation and highlighted the importance of eliminating the doctor stereotype. Many users tagged Delta to share their concern.
Many tweets under the hashtag shared pictures of themselves to remind Delta Airlines that Cross isn't the only black doctor in America.
