Facing Racism And Exclusion, He Created A Haven For The Poor

Doctors in Operating Room
Abeni Jones
March 3, 2020

Starting a business during the Great Depression maybe wasn’t a wise financial decision. But Dr. Anthony Jordan, who opened his clinic in 1932 in Rochester, NY, wasn’t worried about money.

There was only one other Black doctor in the whole city, and white hospitals wouldn’t admit the low-income Black population. Dr. Jordan knew what he had to do.

He became known as “The doctor who would come,” making house calls when no one else would, and serving everyone, regardless of whether they could pay.

He even took trades for his services when patients wanted to pay but had no money - a pie, or crops from a farm, for example.

Dr. Jordan continued serving the community, making house calls, for decades - until failing eyesight forced him to retire.

But he still wasn’t done supporting his people.

Jordan also supported countless charities and was a mentor to many. Today there’s a hospital and Foundation in his name, still serving low-income folks in Rochester.

Dr. Jordan’s story is a reminder that it’s up to us to love and support each other and build institutions of our own - motivated by self-love and community, not money!

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