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Black Doctor's Appeal To Be Respected In Scrubs And Hoodie Goes Viral

Black Doctor's Appeal To Be Respected In Scrubs And Hoodie Goes Viral

His video has been viewed almost a million times

Jake Massey

Jake Massey

A black doctor has gone viral after sharing a video in which he appealed to be respected in both his scrubs and his hoodie.

Dr Emeka Okorocha, an A&E doctor from east London, posted a clip on TikTok in which he can be seen smiling in his scrubs behind the message 'If you celebrate me in my scrubs...'.

The 27-year-old then covers the screen with his hand before taking it away and cutting to him in a hoodie alongside the message 'Don't hate me in my hoodie'.

The video proved to strike a chord on TikTik with his 115,000 followers and beyond, amassing 832,000 views.

Explaining the inspiration behind the video, Dr Emeka told FEMAIL: "It shows the contrast of how people see us in society

"I was in a group chat of doctors, and most of us are black. We were talking about it and all discussed how they when people in scrubs they'll celebrate us, but when they see you in hoodie they fear you.

"As we were talking I thought it was quite a good TikTok idea. Everyone seems to love me in my scrubs and everyone is clapping for the NHS, but if I wear a hoodie, as a 6ft 6in black man in a affluent neighbourhood - they'll be scared."


Beyond being viewed a massive amount of times, the video has also been mimicked by doctors across the world, and Dr Emeka said he hopes the video's viral impact will help to alter stereotypical perceptions.

He said: "I'm so pleased about the post and the exposure and recognition it got. It can change a lot of views to how people react subconsciously when you see a black man.

"I'm celebrated and respected when I'm online for being a doctor, and people need to do that when I wear a hoodie. People need to not judge and give everyone a fair chance.

"We look at racism as a US problem in this country, but it's here too. I've had incidents. I've been driving car in a nice neighbourhood, where my parents live, and been stopped for quote-on-quote 'driving too slow'.

"When he [the police officer] saw my ID and saw it said 'Doctor' his tone changed straight away.

"Before I was just a black guy in my hoodie, and if I'm coming from playing football with friends in a black Nike hoodie that's all they see me as."

Featured Image Credit: Instagram/Dr Emeka

Topics: Viral, Black Lives Matter, Daily Ladness, Community