Reflecting on privilege today. I was washing raspberries for breakfast today & was struck by how lucky I am. I once was so broke, I couldn’t afford fresh fruit for months. Had to choose b/w food & heat on the regular. I often had to thaw out my shampoo before washing my hair 1/7

I then headed to campus for my flu shot, still feeling very fortunate. Sat down, ready for the needle and was asked if I had any “risk factors” according to the sheet or was in a “high risk” population. One of the bullet points just read: Indigenous 2/7

In that moment, on the heels of some very traumatic weeks for Indigenous folx in , I felt triggered tbh. I was there as faculty. I’m fairly healthy (minus pandemic Dorito habit), and now am deemed “high risk”. For what?, I asked. 3/7

BTW, Indigenous was the only racial/ethnic category listed. This is why there is mistrust with systems. I work INSIDE this system and I instantly felt wary of what this data was for and how it would be used and reluctant to let the nurse mark it down. 4/7

If I suddenly felt unsafe: me with my out of season fresh berries, there as a member of faculty, with my name badge and swipe card that allows me inside the building (but perhaps not inside the structure...), if I felt unsafe, imagine how those without that privilege feel... 5/7

This was just a flu shot. Imagine being in the emergency department, in labour and delivery, in a mental health unit - and knowing that somehow your identity could be weaponized at any moment. 6/7

This is why we must address systemic racism in healthcare and we must do it now. The stakes were not very high for me today, but they are much higher for others every single day in our systems. Every. Single. Day. #antiracism #healthcare 7/7