STREAM EXCLUSIVE ORIGINALS

SMH: A Second Black Female Doctor Has Come Forward With Allegations Delta Discriminated Against Her

This pattern is unacceptable.

Earlier this week, one Black doctor's experience on a Delta flight went viral when it was learned that a man on board almost died because the airline's staff didn't believe the woman's credentials to be legitimate.

While the story of Tamika Cross' discrimination on board is enough to make anyone's blood boil, yet another Black female doctor has come forward to share a similar experience, and with Delta specifically, sharing that she, too, faced discrimination from 30,000 feet above ground.

Dr. Ashley Denmark recently shared what happened to her aboard a Delta flight where an appalling decision was made to have two Caucasian nurses help out, instead of a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, who just so happens to be a Black woman.

"Last week I flew Delta Airlines flight 2215 and I was not allowed to provide medical care to a passenger in need despite being a licensed physician," Denmark recalled. "The flight attendant didn't believe I was a doctor and told me to have a seat while 2 nurses provided medical care to the passenger."

Denmark wrote about what went through her mind in a detailed blog post, during which she shares how she contemplated addressing the elephant in the room but decided to bite her tongue instead.

"So here I was, the doctor with 11 years of training being asked to take a seat and not partake in caring for the passenger in need," she writes. "As an African American female physician, I am too familiar with this scenario.  Despite overcoming and excelling academically and obtaining the title of Dr. in front of my name, I still get side-eye glances when I introduce myself as Dr. Denmark."

While the stories of these women continue to spark a national outrage, more Black women in medicine are taking to Twitter to share photos, proudly saying this is #WhatADoctorLooksLike.

Not all the comped sky miles in the world makes this blatant discrimination acceptable. Take a look at Dr. Denmark's recollection of the inexcusable incident in full here

Latest News

Subscribe for BET Updates

Provide your email address to receive our newsletter.


By clicking Subscribe, you confirm that you have read and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge our Privacy Policy. You also agree to receive marketing communications, updates, special offers (including partner offers) and other information from BET and the Paramount family of companies. You understand that you can unsubscribe at any time.