At this year's Bleeding Disorders Conference, Samantha Carlson and Kristie Harvey-Semi led a session that went beyond our usual discussions of coagulation factors and treatment plans. Instead, we found ourselves exploring the complex history of racial wealth disparities in America.
Kristie, Senior Director of Chapter Advancement and Training at NBDF, guided us through a simulation that brought historical policies to life. With cards representing race, money, and land, she traced the impact of 13 key policies from the post-Civil War era to present day.
As Kristie progressed through each policy - from land seizures to the GI Bill, from housing discrimination to modern voting restrictions - the room grew quieter. The uneven distribution of cards among participants served as a tangible representation of how these policies have shaped wealth distribution over generations.
One particularly striking moment came during the discussion of the GI Bill. It was shared that while most white 'veterans' in our simulation received benefits, only one Black 'veteran' got a single money card. It was a clear illustration of how even seemingly universal policies could have disparate impacts.
"I've always known about these issues in theory," a fellow participant shared during our small group discussion, "but seeing it play out like this makes it much more concrete."
The simulation concluded with a reflection on the current 13:1 median net worth gaps between white and Black households in America. It was a sobering statistic that suddenly felt very real.
Christie emphasized that understanding this history isn't about assigning blame, but about recognizing how past policies continue to shape our present. "This knowledge can help us be more effective in our work within the bleeding disorders community," she noted.
As the session wrapped up, there was a sense that we'd gained a new perspective. The challenges we address in our community don't exist in isolation - they're part of a larger societal context.
This session reminded us that our mission to support those with bleeding disorders intersects with broader health equity issues. It's given us food for thought as we consider how to make our programs and services more inclusive and effective for all members of our diverse community. To learn more about NBDF’s Health Equity, Diversity and Inclusion initiatives, visit bleeding.org/HEDI.
