College of Saint Mary to present screening of ‘The Color of Care’

OMAHA, Neb. – College of Saint Mary (CSM) will present a screening of “The Color of Care” at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 14, in Gross Auditorium. The presentation was organized by CSM nursing student Angie Washington. “The Color of Care” chronicles how people of color suffer from systemically substandard healthcare. COVID-19 exposed what they have long understood and lived: they do not receive the same level of care. Produced by Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Productions and directed by Oscar-nominated and Emmy-winning director Yance Ford, the film traces the origins of racial health disparities to practices that began during slavery and continue today. Using moving personal testimony, expert interviews and disturbing data, the film reveals the impact of racism on health, serving as an urgent warning of what must be done to save lives.

The screening is free and open to the public. “I see the validity in impacting students and faculty here, of course, but also in the greater population because College of Saint Mary has great relationships with other healthcare facilities and with partners throughout the city that really are the changemakers,” Washington said.

Following the showing of the documentary, a discussion panel will navigate viewers through a conversation about their thoughts, emotions and reactions to the film, as well as what they can do to help eliminate racial disparities in healthcare.  The panel includes CSM President Dr. Maryanne Stevens, RSM; Dr. Linda Hoven, assistant professor of nursing; and Darrell Black, former chief information officer for the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. “I hope that the people who come to the screening and participate in the discussion take action to bring equity to their realm of influence,” Washington said. “That’s the main goal.”