Dear Dr., Black Girl: “You’re Not a Real Doctor”

“You’re not a real doctor.”

“You think you’re all that because you have your little degree.”

“You got your degree online; anyone can get it. You basically just paid for a piece of paper.”

“And I wouldn’t trust her to do my surgery.”

“You only got into that school because you’re a minority.”

Does any of this sound familiar?

Or maybe it’s the emails that come without a proper greeting, no title, no acknowledgment, just a demand or a question. Conversations where you’re overlooked, dismissed, or reduced.

The truth is, not everyone is going to celebrate you.

Not everyone will understand what it took for you to get here, the 9 to 5 grind, being a mother, a wife, a Lyft driver, a volunteer, and everything in between, while still pushing forward toward your degree. I’ll be honest, I’ve heard some of these same lines myself. And yes, they used to hurt, but not anymore.

Earning my doctorate has been a dream of mine since I was a little girl. I imagined the respect, the recognition, the pride that would come with the title. I thought being called “Doctor” would shift how people saw me.

But it doesn’t, at least not always.

There will be people who don’t celebrate you.

There will be people who speak negatively.

There will be people who won’t acknowledge your title, or you at all.

And while that’s not okay, it is reality.

So how do you navigate this?

You stay true to YOU.

You remember why you started. You remember the long nights, the tears, the fear, the sacrifices. And if you’re still in the process, keep going. Because one day, a little Black girl is going to look at you and realize that she can do it too, just like you once did.

At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter where you earned your degree, what matters is that you worked for it. You showed up. You persevered. And now, you have the opportunity to create impact and be part of positive change.

To all my Black women doctors, don’t get caught up in ignorance. Instead, embrace where you are. Own your journey. Be the change agent for those who are watching you rise.

Now let me be clear, this is not about accepting disrespect. Not at all. It’s about rising above it. You didn’t get here by chance. You earned this. And you’re still earning it every single day.

So, to my Black girl doctor:

I see you.

I celebrate you.

I honor you.

I appreciate you.

Dr. Walker