4 Comments
Oct 10Liked by Samuel James

And of course, when the Black paramedics had demonstrated their competence and success at professionalizing EMS, white people stepped in and claimed ownership, pushing Black people to the back. The book American Sirens explains it all.

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Yes. Also, they’re drastically underpaid like any other career established for/by Black people

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Oct 10Liked by Samuel James

During my 7-year tenure as an EMT-Basic (least expert level), I got a little over $9/hour for the calls I went on and meetings attended.

They started paramedics at $16/hour in OOB back then. People who can do a chest tube or a crichoidectomy in the field. Pump powerful cardiac drugs to resolve arrythmias and resuscitate cardiac arrests. Read and interpret and EKG to identify a myocardial infarction. Insert large-bore IVs while bumping down the road. And on and on.

2000's to earlier 2010's.

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Oct 10Liked by Samuel James

So grateful for your brilliant mind and your Satanic music, Samuel.

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