Racism is a public health crisis!

Season 7 Episode 6! 


Dr Annabel Sowemimo is a doctor, academic, activist, and writer
of Nigerian heritage. She is a London based Consultant in
Community Sexual & Reproductive Health in the NHS, and
founder of charity the Reproductive Justice Initiative (RJI)
(formerly Decolonising Contraception), which aims to address
health inequalities and racial disparities.  Annabel won the
inaugural award for Health Equity Champion at the Curah-H
Awards in 2024.


Within her specialty, she is interested in tackling Gender Based
Violence and improving access for marginalised groups. Annabel
was a regular columnist for gal-dem, and is a freelance writer
for numerous publications, also authoring several academic
publications in leading medical journals including the Lancet and
British Medical Journal. She is frequently in demand for TV and
radio, and was recently featured in the ITV1 documentary Our
NHS with Dr Zoe Williams. 


Annabel is a part-time PhD candidate and Harold Moody Scholar at
King’s College London, with her research focusing on the
experiences of Black women in Britain with fertility control
methods. She is a regular lecturer at a number of institutions
including the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine,
UCL and King's College London. Her first, now arad winning
 book Divided: Racism, Medicine and Decolonising Healthcare
was published by Profile Books/Wellcome Collection in April 2023.


We sat down to discuss:


> Scoliosis and her introduction to the power of medical
institutions 


> the origins of medical racism


> the serious impact racial weathering on modern Black bodies,


> the importance of reclaiming joy.


and much more!


SHOW NOTES


Divided by Annabel Sowemimo


Weathering: The Extraordinary Stress of Ordinary Life in an
Unjust Society by Professor Arline T. Geronimus 


Black Skin White Masks by Frantz Fanon


CONNECT


Dr Annabel Sowemimo on Instagram  


Dr Annabel Sowemimo links


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New website! menopausewhilstblack.com


Karen Arthur is a broadcaster, artist, author and menopause
activist.  She is host of bi-weekly weekend radio show on
Golddust radio 'Can We Talk'.


Karen hosts The Joy Retreat Barbados, the worlds first
retreat for Black women in any stage of menopause, 28th April -
5th May 2025. 


Karens first childrens book, 'Grandmas Locs', illustrated by
Camilla Ru, on celebrating natural Black hair through the
relationship between a grandmother and her grandson, will be
published by Tate publishing on 24th October 2024. Preorders
open.


New episodes drop every Wednesday thanks to the invaluable work
of @beyongolia and @yaa___studio who are
bloody amazing. 


*we recognise that inclusive language is important in ensuring
that ALL who experience menopause are seen and heard. The term
women is used whilst mindful of this.