Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett is not an ordinary scientist. Her white colleagues may say it’s her outstanding skill and drive. Her friends may say it’s her spiritual beliefs and sharp mind. But her Black Girl magic goes far beyond these amazing attributes.
It’s not just that she brings herself to her work, seeking one day to win a Nobel Prize and have Da Baby perform at her ceremony. And not that she set her sights on immunology and chose to research COVID-19.
Her research helped create the COVID vaccine, and yet her impact goes beyond even COVID’s reach.
Her leadership on the COVID vaccine, combined with her understanding and lived experiences of racism, can help our people address a racist and devastating history with medicine. Corbett is fighting against a racist medical community that sees us as nothing more than subjects to be experimented upon.
Her highly visible public position gives us hope that other healthcare providers will prioritize our voices and needs. Corbett is leading the way with her work – and her commitment to our people.
As Corbett’s work demonstrates, we must remember that WE are the ones leading the way, not just towards a vaccine for this global pandemic, but towards larger global, socio-political change. Despite how they see us – as mere subjects – the truth is, we are leaders and change-makers!