Interviews with Nurses of Color and their Allies

The Interviews

40 Interviews were carried out in 2021 with nurses from around the United States. The interviews span decades of professional and personal experience of nurses of color, covering a large range of topics and concerns.

All words and images in the recordings belong to the participating interviewers and interview subjects, and are used here in sole use by permission. Any reproduction, repurposing or distribution of stories requires further written consent.

Nikki E. Akparewa

Nikki shares why nursing connects her to community, and the trauma that comes from passive-aggressive racism.

Kemmarie Beal

Kemmarie discusses the trauma of nursing education as a Black Jamaican woman, and standing up to a professor.

Dr. Jitana Benton-Lee

Jitana shares her experience growing up with nursing and what she believes is the path to equitable healthcare.

Juliette Blount

Juliette talks about race-based assumptions in healthcare and how racism propelled her into leadership.

Lucinda Canty

Lucinda discusses her experience of racism in nursing school and the ways in which medicine is inherently racist.

Shermel Edwards-Maddox

Shermel shares the racism she experienced in her own family, and the importance of Black leadership and excellence.

Florence Emananjo-Ochieze

Florence talks about coming from a family of nurses, the lack of resources for Black students, and why racism persists.

Joe-Ann Fergus

Joe-Ann discusses the informal systems that work behind the scenes, why racism persists, and racism in nursing academia.

Viviana Garcia

Viviana talks about her fears of attending school with an all white faculty, and her commitment to being a voice for patients of color.

Danaya Hall

Danaya discusses her proximity to whiteness, why she chose midwifery, and the racist nature of a medical education.

Allyssa Harris

Allyssa discusses the pressure of being the only person of color, and how she handles the pressure of scrutiny.

Seiko Izumi

Seiko shares the differences between nursing in Japan and the United States, and the importance of peer support.

Sylvia Jalil-Gutierrez

Sylvia talks about being referred to as the “token,” why she chose academia, and what the nursing profession can do to be anti-racist.

Alexandria Jones-Patten

Alexandria shares her experiences as the only Black nurse on the floor and the bias she experienced.

Kim Kim

Kim talks about the power of representation and the ultimate kind of harm caused by implicit bias.

Megan Ludena

Megan talks about being the only black person at work and the importance of the Black Nurses’ Association.

Frankie Manning

Frankie talks about her experiences with racist patients and institutions, and how racism is harmful to everyone.

Diona Martyn

Diona shares racist experiences she had in college, to now discussing racial bias at the university level.

Melissa Mokel

Melissa talks about awakening to the conversation around race and health inequity, and fighting for recognition.

Wanda Montalvo

Wanda talks about standing up to gatekeeping, the experience of code-switching, and the responsibility to mentor others.

Austin Nation

Austin shares his disappointment with the lack of diversity in higher education, and experiencing racism in the workplace.

Caroline Ortiz

Caroline shares the duality between the cultural healing practices of her childhood, versus western bio-medicine.

Gay Pasley

Gay talks about speaking up against racism in the workplace, and addressing patient race-related bias.

Sheri Rickman Patrick

Sheri talks about experiencing greater racism in progressive states and overcoming racist obstacles.

Asha Pereira

Asha shares her experience of racism in the workplace and why racism persists.

Elias Provencio-Vasquez

Elias shares what it’s like to be the only one in his family to have gone to college and the importance of his cultural roots.

Heather Reynolds

Heather shares her experience of nursing school during the Civil Rights Movement and how she addressed racism in clinicals.

Jackeline Biddle Richard

Jackeline talks about her awakening to micro-aggressions and the need to acknowledge structural racism.

Gayle Robinson

Gayle explains the lack of support for Black Studies, and the intersectionality of health and equity.

Keondra Rustan

Keondra shares the death bed confessions of a racist, and the steps to make nursing programs anti-racist.

Anitha Saravanan

Anitha talks about how to handle racist questions from students and how care has the potential to transcend racism.

Valorie Taylor

Valorie shares why nurses of color are needed in leadership roles, and how a Black nurse practitioner advocated for her.

Claire Valderama-Wallace

Claire talks about the color line in nursing education and approaching institutional changes in nursing.

Joseph Marc A. de Veyra

Joseph shares his experience migrating to the U.S., and his career path from journalist, to nurse, to hospital administrator.

Thea Vo

Thea discusses the experience of being in the "model" minority, and how structural racism plays out in staffing assignments.

Candice Xia

Candice shares the importance of finding a mentor, and the challenges of being a nursing student on a visa.

Nikki E. Akparewa

Nikki shares why nursing connects her to community, and the trauma that comes from passive-aggressive racism.

Kemmarie Beal

Kemmarie discusses the trauma of nursing education as a Black Jamaican woman, and standing up to a professor.

Dr. Jitana Benton-Lee

Jitana shares her experience growing up with nursing and what she believes is the path to equitable healthcare.

Juliette Blount

Juliette talks about race-based assumptions in healthcare and how racism propelled her into leadership.

Lucinda Canty

Lucinda discusses her experience of racism in nursing school and the ways in which medicine is inherently racist.

Shermel Edwards-Maddox

Shermel shares the racism she experienced in her own family, and the importance of Black leadership and excellence.

Florence Emananjo-Ochieze

Florence talks about coming from a family of nurses, the lack of resources for Black students, and why racism persists.

Joe-Ann Fergus

Joe-Ann discusses the informal systems that work behind the scenes, why racism persists, and racism in nursing academia.

Viviana Garcia

Viviana talks about her fears of attending school with an all white faculty, and her commitment to being a voice for patients of color.

Danaya Hall

Danaya discusses her proximity to whiteness, why she chose midwifery, and the racist nature of a medical education.

Allyssa Harris

Allyssa discusses the pressure of being the only person of color, and how she handles the pressure of scrutiny.

Seiko Izumi

Seiko shares the differences between nursing in Japan and the United States, and the importance of peer support.

Sylvia Jalil-Gutierrez

Sylvia talks about being referred to as the “token,” why she chose academia, and what the nursing profession can do to be anti-racist.

Alexandria Jones-Patten

Alexandria shares her experiences as the only Black nurse on the floor and the bias she experienced.

Kim Kim

Kim talks about the power of representation and the ultimate kind of harm caused by implicit bias.

Megan Ludena

Megan talks about being the only black person at work and the importance of the Black Nurses’ Association.

Frankie Manning

Frankie talks about her experiences with racist patients and institutions, and how racism is harmful to everyone.

Diona Martyn

Diona shares racist experiences she had in college, to now discussing racial bias at the university level.

Melissa Mokel

Melissa talks about awakening to the conversation around race and health inequity, and fighting for recognition.

Wanda Montalvo

Wanda talks about standing up to gatekeeping, the experience of code-switching, and the responsibility to mentor others.

Austin Nation

Austin shares his disappointment with the lack of diversity in higher education, and experiencing racism in the workplace.

Caroline Ortiz

Caroline shares the duality between the cultural healing practices of her childhood, versus western bio-medicine.

Gay Pasley

Gay talks about speaking up against racism in the workplace, and addressing patient race-related bias.

Sheri Rickman Patrick

Sheri talks about experiencing greater racism in progressive states and overcoming racist obstacles.

Asha Pereira

Asha shares her experience of racism in the workplace and why racism persists.

Elias Provencio-Vasquez

Elias shares what it’s like to be the only one in his family to have gone to college and the importance of his cultural roots.

Heather Reynolds

Heather shares her experience of nursing school during the Civil Rights Movement and how she addressed racism in clinicals.

Jackeline Biddle Richard

Jackeline talks about her awakening to micro-aggressions and the need to acknowledge structural racism.

Gayle Robinson

Gayle explains the lack of support for Black Studies, and the intersectionality of health and equity.

Keondra Rustan

Keondra shares the death bed confessions of a racist, and the steps to make nursing programs anti-racist.

Anitha Saravanan

Anitha talks about how to handle racist questions from students and how care has the potential to transcend racism.

Valorie Taylor

Valorie shares why nurses of color are needed in leadership roles, and how a Black nurse practitioner advocated for her.

Claire Valderama-Wallace

Claire talks about the color line in nursing education and approaching institutional changes in nursing.

Joseph Marc A. de Veyra

Joseph shares his experience migrating to the U.S., and his career path from journalist, to nurse, to hospital administrator.

Thea Vo

Thea discusses the experience of being in the "model" minority, and how structural racism plays out in staffing assignments.

Candice Xia

Candice shares the importance of finding a mentor, and the challenges of being a nursing student on a visa.

Nikki E. Akparewa

Nikki shares why nursing connects her to community, and the trauma that comes from passive-aggressive racism.

Kemmarie Beal

Kemmarie discusses the trauma of nursing education as a Black Jamaican woman, and standing up to a professor.

Dr. Jitana Benton-Lee

Jitana shares her experience growing up with nursing and what she believes is the path to equitable healthcare.

Juliette Blount

Juliette talks about race-based assumptions in healthcare and how racism propelled her into leadership.

Lucinda Canty

Lucinda discusses her experience of racism in nursing school and the ways in which medicine is inherently racist.

Shermel Edwards-Maddox

Shermel shares the racism she experienced in her own family, and the importance of Black leadership and excellence.

Florence Emananjo-Ochieze

Florence talks about coming from a family of nurses, the lack of resources for Black students, and why racism persists.

Joe-Ann Fergus

Joe-Ann discusses the informal systems that work behind the scenes, why racism persists, and racism in nursing academia.

Viviana Garcia

Viviana talks about her fears of attending school with an all white faculty, and her commitment to being a voice for patients of color.

Danaya Hall

Danaya discusses her proximity to whiteness, why she chose midwifery, and the racist nature of a medical education.

Allyssa Harris

Allyssa discusses the pressure of being the only person of color, and how she handles the pressure of scrutiny.

Seiko Izumi

Seiko shares the differences between nursing in Japan and the United States, and the importance of peer support.

Sylvia Jalil-Gutierrez

Sylvia talks about being referred to as the “token,” why she chose academia, and what the nursing profession can do to be anti-racist.

Alexandria Jones-Patten

Alexandria shares her experiences as the only Black nurse on the floor and the bias she experienced.

Kim Kim

Kim talks about the power of representation and the ultimate kind of harm caused by implicit bias.

Megan Ludena

Megan talks about being the only black person at work and the importance of the Black Nurses’ Association.

Frankie Manning

Frankie talks about her experiences with racist patients and institutions, and how racism is harmful to everyone.

Diona Martyn

Diona shares racist experiences she had in college, to now discussing racial bias at the university level.

Melissa Mokel

Melissa talks about awakening to the conversation around race and health inequity, and fighting for recognition.

Wanda Montalvo

Wanda talks about standing up to gatekeeping, the experience of code-switching, and the responsibility to mentor others.

Austin Nation

Austin shares his disappointment with the lack of diversity in higher education, and experiencing racism in the workplace.

Caroline Ortiz

Caroline shares the duality between the cultural healing practices of her childhood, versus western bio-medicine.

Gay Pasley

Gay talks about speaking up against racism in the workplace, and addressing patient race-related bias.

Sheri Rickman Patrick

Sheri talks about experiencing greater racism in progressive states and overcoming racist obstacles.

Asha Pereira

Asha shares her experience of racism in the workplace and why racism persists.

Elias Provencio-Vasquez

Elias shares what it’s like to be the only one in his family to have gone to college and the importance of his cultural roots.

Heather Reynolds

Heather shares her experience of nursing school during the Civil Rights Movement and how she addressed racism in clinicals.

Jackeline Biddle Richard

Jackeline talks about her awakening to micro-aggressions and the need to acknowledge structural racism.

Gayle Robinson

Gayle explains the lack of support for Black Studies, and the intersectionality of health and equity.

Keondra Rustan

Keondra shares the death bed confessions of a racist, and the steps to make nursing programs anti-racist.

Anitha Saravanan

Anitha talks about how to handle racist questions from students and how care has the potential to transcend racism.

Valorie Taylor

Valorie shares why nurses of color are needed in leadership roles, and how a Black nurse practitioner advocated for her.

Claire Valderama-Wallace

Claire talks about the color line in nursing education and approaching institutional changes in nursing.

Joseph Marc A. de Veyra

Joseph shares his experience migrating to the U.S., and his career path from journalist, to nurse, to hospital administrator.

Thea Vo

Thea discusses the experience of being in the "model" minority, and how structural racism plays out in staffing assignments.

Candice Xia

Candice shares the importance of finding a mentor, and the challenges of being a nursing student on a visa.
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