Reasons Behind the Black Community's Hesitance Toward Organ Donation

Every day, individuals across the nation apply for or renew their driver’s licenses, often confronted with the simple yet profound question: Are you willing to register as an organ, eye, and tissue donor? For 40-year-old Tamika Smith, the answer is a firm no. Despite managing her health through regular checkups and preventative care, Smith has developed a deep mistrust of the medical system, shaped by her harrowing experiences.By 34, Smith endured chronic pain, often ignored by medical professionals. Despite meticulous documentation over a decade, detailing her symptoms, she faced dismissal from practitioners who suggested her anguish was psychological. After years of seeking answers, she was finally diagnosed with endometriosis and lupus. With well-founded skepticism rooted in personal and communal histories of medical mistreatment, Smith embodies a broader sentiment among many Black individuals who remain cautious of organ donation, reflecting a deep-seated distrust stemming from systemic inequities and historical injustices in healthcare.