Seth Wittner
Henderson, NV
My parents were ahead of their time. I was born in 1950, and when I was ten or eleven, my parents arranged for me to go to a young black pediatrician–Dr. William Hewlett, who I recently learned became the first African-American physician to have privileges at Jamaica Hospital. There was a white doctor within easy walking distance who my family had been going to. Instead, my parents had me take the bus to see Dr. Hewlett, who they knew socially . They were active in the civil rights movement and helped to shield Paul Robeson from violence when he gave a concert in Peekskill, NY, where riots broke out over Mr. Robeson’s pro-union stance and anti-KKK efforts. Being taken care of by a black doctor as a child helped me to see people of color as being as well-qualified as anyone else to do any kind of work. My parents would never take chances with my well-being. I hope the number of kids learning this kind of early lesson will continue to grow.
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