Deck 14: Multicultural Health Issues

Question 1

Refer to Case Study 14-1. Who were the Tuskegee Airmen, and what impact do they have on society today?
(In Reference Case Study 14-1)

Answer 1

Tuskegee airmen were a group of airmen/military pilots belonging to the African-American race who fought in the fighter and bomber planes during World War II. These were the first of the African American pilots that were included in the United States Army. They were also the ones who formed the 332 nd and the 477 th fighter and bombardment groups respectively for the United States Army Air Forces.
Before and during the World War II racism was predominant, the Americans/whites shunned the Africans/blacks for their color. The whites thought and felt superior to the Africans and treated them like untouchables and even kept them as slaves and gave them the worst kind of torture and treated them worse than dogs.
During the World War II the blacks were not allowed to serve the country along with the white soldiers in the same unit. Besides there were no black pilot not even an African American pilot during the war until the president of America Mr. Franklin D Roosevelt allowed them to be a part of his specialty area. These African American pilots were given the toughest of tests and assignments yet, some of them qualified in it and went to fly and were hailed as heroes for their feats. During their service to the country they also saved the lives of some of the white bomber pilots when they found such opportunities.
Such African American pilot saviors that saved the lives of their so called white enemies were named as 'Tuskegee Airmen'. It was these pilots that broke the fence between the African American pilots and the whites and paved way for others.

Question 2

What will be the population mix of the United States in 2050? How will you want your ethnic group described?

Answer 2

According to the demographic prediction the fate of the United States of America in the year 2050 will be consisting of 4% Whites, 30% Hispanic, 15% Africans and 12% Asian population.
The prediction of the bureau of census about the status of the American population in 2050 is that within a generation's time, the majority of the population will not be formed by a single population but by mixed races.
It is predicted that 54% of the population is going to be of the minority. Where the Hispanic population is expected to be thrice the number now, meaning they will be 30% of the American population in 2050 from a 46.7 million to 132.8 million. The Africans will grow from 41million to 65.7 million. The Asian populations will double its size from 15.5 million to 40.6 million, which is approximately 12% of the total population. And the whites who are more prone to early deaths or premature deaths will comprise of just 203.3 million from a present 200 million.
I see myself and my ethnic group to double its population size by 2050 that is from 15.5 million to 40.6million and therefore the Asian population will be 12 % of the total American population.

Question 3

Review Case Study 14-2 regarding Jehovah's Witnesses and blood transfusions. Imagine now that you are a devout Jehovah's Witness and you must explain to health professionals why your child, who has just been injured in an auto accident, may NOT have a transfusion. Then switch the argument, placing yourself as the health professional arguing for the transfusion. Finally, imagine that this takes place in mid-1980; what are the possible ramifications of each position? What would be different with the argument today and why?
(In Reference Case Study 14-2)

Answer 3

The Jehovah's witnesses do not accept blood from anyone even during an emergency therefore they never agree to blood transfusions. This is because they believe that the bible forbids one to give blood or take blood from anyone, because a person's life is in their blood, it is forbidden to take blood out as it is equivalent to taking life.
If I were a Jehovah's Witness and my child meets with an accident and is in desperate need of blood, but I still will not want to accept blood from any donor. This might sound as stupidity to some, but, I would convince the health professionals that my child though is very important to me, I want my child to escape death and live, yet, I can't give up on my beliefs and faith. My God requires me to keep myself from foreign blood and therefore I can-not accept blood from any donor. Similarly I can-not donate blood either as it is a sin against my God.
I would rather let my son meet his fate than I disobeying my God, than I and my son going to hellfire for this sin. If my God wants, He'll rescue my child from the clutches of death if He thinks otherwise let His will be done but, I will not disobey His laws.
As a health professional I would argue with the parent for the child. My argument for the child would be that the child is too young to decide whether the child wants to be a Jehovah's Witnesses or not, whether the child will decide to allow a blood transfusion or will refuse it. As parents, they can only suggest or give their opinion but, can never force a faith, religion or a belief on another. What if the child lives and comes to know about this ordeal later? Will the child feel proud of you as a parent or will the child regret for this decision? This would have been my argument and my debate or persuasion to rescue and help the child.
Had this incident been reported to have happened in the mid 80's the situation would have been even worse. I say this because, in these days, science and technology has increased in leaps and bounds and has spread far and wide simplifying medical practice. Unlike these days, in those days, there was hardly any sophisticated machinery, ventilators, ICU and NICU machinery, dialysis machine etc. such technology were unheard of. And therefore the option for a Jehovah Witness patient to purify their own blood and recirculate it into their own body wouldn't have been possible, and sad to say they would have had to meet with death.

Question 4

Describe the "ideal" health practitioner to provide care to a middle-aged female person of color.

Question 5

How does racism hurt us all?

Question 6

What was the immediate impact of 9/11 on ethnic interrelationships within the United States?

Question 7

If you believe that lean is healthy, how would you go about convincing a 50-year-old obese male with diabetes that he needs to drop pounds if he comes from a background where eating defines family life and a large build is highly valued?

Question 8

If racial lines are used to set up interviewers vs. interviewees, as in the classic experiment cited in this chapter, describe how you believe the outcome would differ today.

Question 9

What are the problems with "attribution" judgments?

Question 10

How might you as an individual make significant change in this country?

Question 11

Discuss culture-bound syndromes and their influence on mental health.