It is shocking, infuriating and beyond disgusting to hear about acts of cruelty like those committed in the NICU at Henrico Doctors' Hospital. How can someone look at a newborn (fragile, innocent and absolutely dependent) and cause deliberate harm? And for what reason? The idea is chilling. We're talking about babies: babies. The very idea that someone in a position of trust, such as a nurse, could be so depraved is both heartbreaking and infuriating.
For those who don't know, the NICU, or Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, is a specialized area of a hospital dedicated to the care of newborn babies who require additional medical care.
Erin Elizabeth Ann Strotman, a nurse arrested for allegedly causing fractures and injuries to NICU babies, has moved me to my core. The fact that this is even a possibility shows the depth of the systemic rot within certain parts of the healthcare system. And yes, I'm going to say it: there is a racial element here that we cannot ignore. When I hear stories like this, I can't help but wonder about the role racism plays. Racism is not just hateful words or discriminatory policies; It is built into the very fabric of systems that allow people to harm the most vulnerable without facing immediate liability.
There is a long history here. My grandmother always said that racism has not diminished; it's just that the laws make it more difficult to act openly. But give a white person a chance and their true colors will show. Stories like this are a haunting reminder of that truth. If a white nurse can supposedly harm black newborns by deliberately targeting them, what does that say about the depth of her cruelty? About the system that allowed him? About the rampant prejudices that fester behind the smiles of people who say, “I have black friends”?
Let me be clear: having friends of another race does not exempt anyone from prejudice. True decency is not about showing kindness; it is about seeing each person as fully human, equal in value and dignity. And when stories like this emerge, it becomes clear that many people still fail this basic test of humanity.
It is also important to note that this is not an isolated incident: it is part of a larger pattern. The healthcare system, like the police force, is supposed to protect and serve. However, we see time and time again how some individuals within these systems weaponize their positions against Black people. Babies in a NICU! Could there be a more vulnerable group? And what does this say about a society where such an atrocity can occur, not once, but repeatedly?
The hospital's actions also deserve scrutiny. Why weren't the 2023 incidents a wake-up call? Why did it take so long to take action? Suspending NICU admissions now seems more like damage control than a genuine concern for justice or accountability.
Some people might dismiss my anger as overblown or unnecessary, but let me ask you this: How do you expect a country built on the backs of enslaved people, founded on systemic oppression and exploitation, to simply “overcome” its deep-seated racism? That is as naive as thinking that a lion will stop eating meat. Racism is embedded in the DNA of the system and is passed down like a twisted inheritance.
And don't tell me all crimes like this have to do with mental health. That's a lazy excuse used to protect people from the responsibility they deserve. Until we begin to recognize racism for the disease it truly is (a deep and festering mental and moral corruption), we will continue to see these horrible acts. It's not just hate; It is such extreme depravity that it allows someone to look at a child and see a target instead of a baby.
To my black brothers and sisters: stay alert. Trust is earned, not freely given, especially in a world that has shown us time and time again how little our lives are valued. This is not paranoia: it is survival. Never let your guard down, not with your children, not with anyone.
And for those who read this and dismiss it as “just another story,” remember: harm done to one of us eventually poisons us all. The same evil that allows someone to harm black newborns will seep into every corner of society. This hatred, if left unchecked, will devour itself when it runs out of goals.
We need systemic change, accountability, and a collective recognition of the truth. No more excuses. No more “mental health” scapegoats. Call it what it is: racism, hate and evil.
Photo from lascot studio
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