AS if 2020 couldn’t get any worse, we have this past week witnessed the horrific killing of George Floyd which has shaken the world on many levels.

Protests across America and the UK have demonstrated the power of solidarity in seeking justice for the wrongful murder of a man – the reason for his death being he was black.

I cried when I watched the video footage of his slow and painful death at the hands of a ruthless officer, one whose job was to protect society but instead he used his power to torture someone in the most inhumane way.

Hearing George Floyd plead, “I can’t breathe,” made my heart break but also my blood boil as to how this could still be happening in our present day!

So it’s no wonder that people across the world have come together to stand up, speak out and demand justice, not just for George Floyd but for every black life past, present and future. Things need to change.

It’s been triggering for me on a personal level too. I’m a brown woman and my colour hasn’t always been an easy colour to wear. My background is Indian and it’s only in my 30s, at this stage of my life, that I can honestly say I’m comfortable in my skin. Why? Because racism has always been a part of my life and being different wasn’t celebrated when I was young.

I have vivid memories of customers coming into my family’s corner shop and hurling racist abuse at my grandad when I was a kid. He would get spat at, called derogatory names. My dad and uncles got it too. It was scary to watch as a child. I questioned them about why they wouldn’t shout back, why did they just take it? However I was always told to be quiet. They lived in fear because they had seen chaos back in India and they didn’t want to bring any trouble to their doorsteps here. My heart would break. These were my elders yet they were often treated like dirt because of their colour.

At school I had it too. My friends were all white and I stood out! I hated it. I wanted to be just like them. How foolish I was back then that I didn’t appreciate or celebrate my difference, instead I would think of ways to change my name or lighten my skin so I could fit in. I would hate it when my mum cooked food because I didn’t want to smell of curry, another reason to be called names.

As I grew up, I thought this would settle, the racism I mean. I entered a profession that cares for people. The National Health Service, a public service that serves everyone irrespective of colour, class or creed. However here too, racism exists! I’ve watched my colleagues from black, Asian and other ethnic minorities (BAME), who are working tirelessly, be victims to racism. I too have had comments from patients who have not wanted to see an Asian doctor, this stuff cuts deep!

So I understand why our black community has stood up and said no more! I’m with them. The hashtag #blacklivesmatter has been trending globally and rightly so. It is time for everyone in the world to check-in with themselves and their contributions to racism because it exists everywhere.

Whether you’ve been a bystander, been complicit in the act of or have been racist yourself, you need to have a look within and ask yourself where this has come from. You certainly weren’t born to be racist.

If however it has never crossed your mind or you’ve thought racism isn’t your problem, also ask yourself why not? Everyday people are killed or face brutalities due to racism and by not making it your problem, you are allowing this to continue. So I ask that you make this issue your problem and take some action to help society eradicate racism once and for all.

I get and fully support the #blacklivesmatter movement however, from a medical perspective, I do worry about every protester out on the streets right now. Even in such times as this pandemic, BAME people are at a greater risk of developing more serious complications from covid-19 compared to their white counterparts. Watching people gather in thousands, in close proximity to support the movement has been stressful because the threat of this virus is still very real.

I urge anyone planning to attend any protests to think twice about the risk to not just yourself but of the risk you will be taking back home to your loved ones. There are ways to support the movement whilst keeping yourself protected from Covid-19. Follow social distancing rules. Ensure you’re wearing a mask and practice respiratory and hand hygiene if you are to go out.

Both racism and the coronavirus pandemic are costing lives and we must face them front on because every life matters.