The Reality of Black Medicine Soon to be a Fantasy

     As an African-American freshman female at Virginia State University, there's a lot I've realized about black teens in today's society. Despite the obvious oppression in EVERY aspect of our lives by other races, mostly white America, there's actually 3 sides to the way young African-Americans operate. Mostly everyone knows about those who lack the motivation whether be it from themselves or others to do anything meaningful with their lives and those who actually do become something of themselves due to their hard-work and dedication. But it is the middle-ground of teens that need the most help, those who despite their own adherence don't actually make it to where they wanted and pictured themselves to be. It baffles me to how less than 5 percent of doctors are black but yet pre-med concentrations are packed at HBCU's. The numbers for black medical school applicants are actually decreasing ans we speak but I could hardly find a seat in my Biology for Biology majors class on the first day. Many have the drive to become great but become lost somewhere along the way. Instead of trying to get more teens of color to become interested in Medicine, we should fight to keep us interested. Too many professionals are failing us which makes us believe that we really aren't meant to BE great. Until we help those who are lost find their way through, the goal to have more blacks in medicine will remain a fantasy.