Representation

My happy face outside the Barbados Museum and Historical Society

There were many interesting artefacts and paintings that would require another visit to take it all in. However, the thing that captured my attention the most was the Black anatomical model in the medical section of the Children’s Gallery.

Throughout studying for my herbal medicine degree, and the other courses I have done over the years, I have never seen a Black anatomical model. You may be thinking, “but Louise, the structures and the organs are the same”, and of course you would be right but there was something more important for me.

In these courses, I was often the only or one of a few Black faces in the room. Ethnic groups were, and still are, underrepresented in clinical research, which means that things like treatment protocols may not apply to all groups of people. I know that people of African descent have particular health challenges and needs - I wrote a whole dissertation about it!

Despite my love of these disciplines, when you don't see your face in books or as an anatomical model, you cannot help but question, “where am I in this world of health and wellness?”.

My joy came from the fact that, for all the little Louises that will visit the museum, a little seed will be planted and their inquisitive minds will know that they belong.