Activism

Third Opinion: How My Dad’s Terminal Diagnosis Taught Me the Importance of Self Advocacy

…there I was, sitting in the living room where I was raised, learning from my father that a CAT scan had revealed that the basilar artery that carried blood from his heart to his brain was completely blocked. The diagnosis was that he had mere weeks left to live. The timetable, he confided, seemed inaccurate. “I don’t feel like I’m dying,” he said, hefting my suitcase over his shoulder and walking it upstairs, an exertion that was absolutely against doctor’s orders.

Published

2 years ago

July 20, 2024

Oakland Post

Keenan Norris

By Keenan Norris, Special to California Black Media Partners

One moment, I was decompressing after my day at work in Oakland, the next I was being called home to Southern California to learn something too serious for telephone conversation. I remember playing the same song for the entire six-hour drive down south.

Then, there I was, sitting in the living room where I was raised, learning from my father that a CAT scan had revealed that the basilar artery that carried blood from his heart to his brain was completely blocked. The diagnosis was that he had mere weeks left to live. The timetable, he confided, seemed inaccurate. “I don’t feel like I’m dying,” he said, hefting my suitcase over his shoulder and walking it upstairs, an exertion that was absolutely against doctor’s orders.

The disconnect between my father’s lived experience and his diagnosis was just one rift that would arise between my family and the medical system. In the weeks that followed, he suffered a series of small strokes, obvious symptoms of occlusion. At the local hospitals we took him to, the staff all but told us he was a dead man.

Unwilling to accept this premature conclusion, my family took it upon ourselves to do what the medical establishment seemed unwilling to do. We fought for my father, pushing for referrals and further tests. And it was because of our family’s advocacy that the terminal diagnosis given to my father was not, in fact, the last word on his life.

Debra Law is a lecturer at The Valley Foundation School of Nursing at San Jose State. Formerly a medical-surgical nurse and adult kidney transplant coordinator at Stanford University Medical Center, Law, who is African American, explains that “Patient advocacy can come in many different forms, and it does not require medical knowledge, per se.”

“As a nurse, when we know that a patient has someone in the room that sends the message, ‘My loved one is important.’ If they put the call light on for their loved one, then they are the voice for their loved one,” she added.

Nurses, Law notes, can serve as a vitally important “last line of defense” for patients.

For my family, there was no such defense. Upon disclosing his condition to medical personnel, we were consistently told that the situation was hopeless. My mother, however, would not accept the resignation of the medical establishment and instead talked her way into a referral to a large public research and teaching hospital in the Los Angeles Area.

At that hospital, respected for its leading-edge research, we were informed that only four people on record had survived a complete occlusion of their basilar artery for any significant period. But there might be cause for hope: A subsequent CAT scan revealed that new blood vessels had emerged and were beginning to substitute for the blocked artery. We would have to monitor my father’s blood pressure all day and all night, the world-class neurologist told us, making sure it did not drop so low that blood flow to the brain would ebb irrecoverably, causing a deadly stroke. The home remedies to increase blood pressure suggested to us were primitive: Salt tablets, hot water, beer. If we could keep his blood pressure high enough for long enough, the new vessels might grow large enough to save his life.

We did our best, monitoring my father’s blood pressure 24/7, rejecting sleep and sanity. The constant care schedule exhausted us. The experience of those days and nights was so far beyond rationality, that it feels like another human body than my own lived through it. I am a writer, but I have no words for what we went through.

After days of that madness, somehow, he was still alive. The strokes began to dissipate.

We returned to the local hospital. The doctor who had originally diagnosed him with the death sentence ordered another CAT scan: The new blood vessels had long since grown strong enough to sustain my father’s brain, he determined.

Why hadn’t the world-class neurologist at the large research and teaching hospital seen what this local physician could see so clearly? Why had my father been dispatched to us in what amounted to a nightmarish outpatient procedure? It might be, the local physician told us, that his counterpart at the research hospital was more concerned with studying my father’s rare condition than with him as a patient. The obscene history of medical experimentation on Black people — from the Tuskegee syphilis experiment to the commandeering of Henrietta Lacks’s cells — was not as well known then as it is now.

The reality of poorer health outcomes for Black people across so many indices is proof of the persistence of racialized maltreatment in our healthcare system to this day.

We need to advocate for ourselves and our loved ones in the medical system. Law cites the Black Infant Health Program and the increase in doulas to address the disturbingly high rates both of Black infant and maternal mortality as examples of Black healthcare advocacy.

Hearing the doctor out, my dad just shrugged. Hadn’t we heard him when he said he didn’t feel like he was dying? He’d been advocating for himself all along.

We went home; my dad weeded the garden under the sweltering sun that afternoon and would go on to live for five more years. I let myself sleep, finally, for the first time in what felt like forever.

About the Author

Keenan Norris’s books include Chi Boy: Native Sons and Chicago Reckonings and The Confession of Copeland Cane. He had been the recipient of the Northern California Book Award and National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Award. He teaches at San Jose State University.

Third Opinion is a California Black Media (CBM) series of personal essays written by Black patients, advocates and medical providers in California that provide experience-based cues for health and wellbeing as well as insights into understanding and navigating the state’s health care delivery system. The articles produced are resources of CBM’s California Black Health Journalism Project.

This article is supported by the California Black Health Journalism Project, a program created by California Black Media, that addresses the top health challenges African Americans in California face. It relies on the input of community and practitioners; an awareness of historical factors, social contexts and root causes; and a strong focus on solutions as determined by policymakers, advocates and patients.

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Activism

Discrimination in City Contracts

The report was made public by Councilmember Carroll Fife, who brought it this week to the Council’s Life Enrichment Committee, which she chairs. Councilmembers, angry at the conditions revealed, unanimously approved the informational report, which is scheduled to go to an upcoming council meeting for discussion and action. The current study covers five years, 2016-2021, roughly overlapping the two tenures of Libby Schaaf, who served as mayor from January 2015 to January 2023.

Published

14 hours ago

February 13, 2026

Oakland Post

Dr. Eleanor Ramsey (top, left) founder, and CEO of Mason Tillman Associates, which conducted the study revealing contract disparities, was invited by District 3 Councilmember Carroll Fife (top center) to a Council committee meeting attended by Oakland entrepreneur Cathy Adams (top right) and (bottom row, left to right) Brenda Harbin-Forte, Carol Wyatt, and councilmembers Charlene Wang and Ken Houston. Courtesy photos.

Disparity Study Exposes Oakland’s Lack of Race and Equity Inclusion

Part 1

By Ken Epstein

A long-awaited disparity study funded by the City of Oakland shows dramatic evidence that city government is practicing a deeply embedded pattern of systemic discrimination in the spending of public money on outside contracts that excludes minority- and woman-owned businesses, especially African Americans.

Instead, a majority of public money goes to a disproportionate handful of white male-owned companies that are based outside of Oakland, according to the 369-page report produced for the city by Mason Tillman Associates, an Oakland-based firm that performs statistical, legal and economic analyses of contracting and hiring.

The current study covers five years, 2016-2021, roughly overlapping the two tenures of Libby Schaaf, who served as mayor from January 2015 to January 2023.

The amount of dollars at stake in these contracts was significant in the four areas that were studied, a total of $486.7 million including $214.6 million on construction, $28.6 million on architecture, and engineering, $78.9 million on professional services, and $164.6 million on goods and services.

While the city’s policies are good, “the practices are not consistent with policy,” said Dr. Eleanor Ramsey, founder and CEO of Mason Tillman Associates.

There have been four disparity studies during the last 20 years, all showing a pattern of discrimination against women and minorities, especially African Americans, she said. “You have good procurement policy but poor enforcement.”

“Most minority- and women-owned businesses did not receive their fair share of city-funded contracts,” she continued. “Over 50% of the city’s prime contract dollars were awarded to white-owned male businesses that controlled most subcontracting awards. And nearly 65% of the city’s prime contracts were awarded to non-Oakland businesses.”

As a result, she said, “there is a direct loss of revenue to Oakland businesses and to business tax in the city… There is also an indirect loss of sales and property taxes (and) increased commercial office vacancies and empty retail space.”

Much of the discrimination occurs in the methods used by individual city departments when issuing outside contracts. Many departments have found “creative” ways to circumvent policies, including issuing “emergency” contracts for emergencies that do not exist and providing waivers to requirements to contract with women- and minority-owned businesses, Ramsey said.

Many of the smaller contracts – 59% of total contracts issued – never go to the City Council for approval.

Some people argue that the contracts go to a few big companies because small businesses either do not exist or cannot do the work. But the reality is that a majority of city contracts are small, under $100,000, and there are many Black-, woman- and minority-owned companies available in Oakland, said Ramsey.

“Until we address the disparities that we are seeing, not just in this report but with our own eyes, we will be consistently challenged to create safety, to create equity, and to create the city that we all deserve,” said Fife.

A special issue highlighted in the disparity report was the way city departments handled spending of federal money issued in grants through a state agency, Caltrans. Under federal guidelines, 17.06%. of the dollars should go to Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs).

“The fact is that only 2.16% of all the dollars awarded on contracts (went to) DBEs,” Ramsey said.

Speaking at the committee meeting, City Councilmember Ken Houston said, “It’s not fair, it’s not right. If we had implemented (city policies) 24 years ago, we wouldn’t be sitting here (now) waiving (policies).”

“What about us? We want vacations. We want to have savings for our children. We’re dying out here,” he said.

Councilmember Charlene Wang said that she noticed when reading the report that “two types of business owners that are consistently experiencing the most appalling discrimination” are African Americans and minority females.

“It’s gotten worse” over the past 20 years, she said. “It’s notable that businesses have survived despite the fact that they have not been able to do business with their own city.”

Also speaking at the meeting, Brenda Harbin-Forte, a retired Alameda County Superior Court judge, and chair of the Legal Redress Committee for the Oakland NAACP, said, “I am so glad this disparity study finally was made public. These findings … are not just troubling, they are appalling, that we have let these things go on in our city.”

“We need action, we need activity,” she said. “We need for the City Council and others to recognize that you must immediately do something to rectify the situation that has been allowed to go on. The report says that the city was an active or inactive or unintentional or whatever participant in what has been going on in the city. We need fairness.”

Cathy Adams, president of the Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce, said, “The report in my opinion was very clear. It gave directions, and I feel that we should accept the consultant Dr. Ramsey’s recommendations.

“We understand what the disparities are; it’s going to be upon the city, our councilmembers, and our department heads to just get in alignment,” she said.

Said West Oakland activist Carol Wyatt, “For a diverse city to produce these results is a disgrace. The study shows that roughly 83% of the city contracting dollars went to non-minority white male-owned firms under so-called race neutral policies

These conditions are not “a reflection of a lack of qualified local firms,” she continued. “Oakland does not have a workforce shortage; it has a training, local hire, and capacity-building problem.”

“That failure must be examined and corrected,” she said. “The length of time the study sat without action, only further heightens the need for accountability.”

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COMMENTARY: The National Protest Must Be Accompanied with Our Votes

Just as Trump is gathering election data like having the FBI take all the election data in Georgia from the 2020 election, so must we organize in preparation for the coming primary season to have the right people on ballots in each Republican district, so that we can regain control of the House of Representatives and by doing so, restore the separation of powers and balance that our democracy is being deprived of.

Published

3 days ago

February 10, 2026

Oakland Post

Dr. John E. Warren, Publisher San Diego Voice & Viewpoint Newspaper. File photo..

By Dr. John E. Warren, Publisher San Diego Voice & Viewpoint Newspaper

As thousands of Americans march every week in cities across this great nation, it must be remembered that the protest without the vote is of no concern to Donald Trump and his administration.

In every city, there is a personal connection to the U.S. Congress. In too many cases, the member of Congress representing the people of that city and the congressional district in which it sits, is a Republican. It is the Republicans who are giving silent support to the destructive actions of those persons like the U.S. Attorney General, the Director of Homeland Security, and the National Intelligence Director, who are carrying out the revenge campaign of the President rather than upholding the oath of office each of them took “to Defend The Constitution of the United States.”

In California, the primary comes in June 2026. The congressional races must be a priority just as much as the local election of people has been so important in keeping ICE from acquiring facilities to build more prisons around the country.

“We the People” are winning this battle, even though it might not look like it. Each of us must get involved now, right where we are.

In this Black History month, it is important to remember that all we have accomplished in this nation has been “in spite of” and not “because of.” Frederick Douglas said, “Power concedes nothing without a struggle.”

Today, the struggle is to maintain our very institutions and history. Our strength in this struggle rests in our “collectiveness.” Our newspapers and journalists are at the greatest risk. We must not personally add to the attack by ignoring those who have been our very foundation, our Black press.

Are you spending your dollars this Black History Month with those who salute and honor contributions by supporting those who tell our stories? Remember that silence is the same as consent and support for the opposition. Where do you stand and where will your dollars go?

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Congresswoman Simon Votes Against Department of Homeland Security, ICE Funding

“They need accountability. Republicans already gave these agencies an unprecedented $170 billion for immigration enforcement, funding they have used to conduct raids at schools, separate families, and deploy a masked paramilitary who refuse to identify themselves on American streets. This bill gives them more funding without a single reform to stop unconstitutional, immoral abuses,” she said.

Published

3 days ago

February 10, 2026

Oakland Post

Congresswoman Lateefah Simon (D-CA-12). File photo.

By Post Staff

Congresswoman Lateefah Simon (D-CA-12) released a statement after voting against legislation to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which supports Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CPB).

“Today, I voted NO on legislation to fund the Department of Homeland Security through Feb. 13, 2026.

“ICE and CBP do not need more funding to terrorize communities or kill more people,” she said in the media release.

“They need accountability. Republicans already gave these agencies an unprecedented $170 billion for immigration enforcement, funding they have used to conduct raids at schools, separate families, and deploy a masked paramilitary who refuse to identify themselves on American streets. This bill gives them more funding without a single reform to stop unconstitutional, immoral abuses,” she said.

“The American people are demanding change. Poll after poll of Americans’ opinions show overwhelming support for requiring ICE agents to wear body cameras and prohibiting them from hiding their faces during enforcement actions. This is the bare minimum transparency standard, and this funding legislation does not even meet this low bar,” Simon said.

“Republicans in Congress are not serious about reining in these lawless agencies. Their refusal to make meaningful changes to the DHS funding bill has consequences that go beyond immigration enforcement. TSA agents who keep our airports safe and FEMA workers who help our communities recover from disasters are stuck in limbo due to Republican inaction.

“The Constitution does not have an exception for immigrants. Every person on American soil has rights, and federal agencies must respect them. The East Bay has made clear at the Alameda County and city level that we will hold the line against a violent ICE force and support our immigrant communities – I will continue to hold the line and our values with my votes in Congress.”