When Hate Enters the NICU: Breaking the Bones of Black Infants

It is appalling, infuriating, and beyond disgusting to hear about acts of cruelty like those committed at the Henrico Doctors’ Hospital NICU. How can anyone look at a newborn—fragile, innocent, and utterly dependent—and cause deliberate harm? And for what reason? The thought is chilling. These are infants we’re talking about—babies. The very notion that someone in a position of trust, like a nurse, could be so depraved is both heartbreaking and infuriating.

For those who do not know, the NICU, or Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, is a specialized area in a hospital dedicated to caring for newborn babies who require extra medical attention.

Erin Elizabeth Ann Strotman, a nurse arrested for allegedly causing fractures and injuries to NICU babies, has shaken 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’s a racial element here that we cannot ignore. When I hear stories like this, I cannot help but wonder about the role that racism plays. Racism isn’t just hateful words or discriminatory policies; it’s baked into the very fabric of systems that allow individuals to harm the most vulnerable without facing immediate accountability.

There’s a long history here. My grandmother always said that racism hasn’t decreased—it’s just that laws make it harder to act on openly. But give a white person the opportunity, and their true colors will show. Stories like this are a haunting reminder of that truth. If a white nurse can allegedly harm Black newborns, targeting them deliberately, what does that say about the depths of her cruelty? About the system that enabled her? About the unchecked biases that fester behind the smiles of people claiming, "I have Black friends"?

Let me be clear: having friends of another race doesn’t absolve anyone of prejudice. True decency is not about performing kindness; it’s about seeing every person as fully human, equal in worth and dignity. And when stories like this surface, it becomes clear that many people still fail this basic test of humanity.

It’s also important to note that this isn’t an isolated incident—it’s part of a larger pattern. The health system, like the police force, is supposed to protect and serve. Yet, 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 it say about a society where such an atrocity can occur, not once, but repeatedly?

The hospital’s actions also warrant scrutiny. Why were incidents in 2023 not a wake-up call? Why did it take this long for action to be taken? Suspending NICU admissions now feels like damage control rather than 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 “get over” its deeply ingrained racism? That’s as naïve as thinking a lion will stop eating meat. Racism is embedded in the DNA of the system, passed down like a twisted inheritance.

And don’t tell me every crime like this is about mental health. That’s a lazy excuse used to shield people from the accountability they deserve. Until we start recognizing racism as the sickness it truly is—a deep, festering mental and moral corruption—we’ll continue to see these horrifying acts. It’s not just hatred; it’s a depravity so extreme that it allows someone to look at a child and see a target instead of a baby.

To my Black brothers and sisters: stay vigilant. 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 isn’t paranoia—it’s survival. Never let your guard down, not around your children, not around anyone.

And to those who will read this and dismiss it as “just another story,” remember: the harm done to one of us eventually poisons all of us. The same wickedness that allows someone to harm Black newborns will seep into every crevice of society. This hatred, unchecked, will eat itself when it runs out of targets.

We need systemic change, accountability, and a collective reckoning with the truth. No more excuses. No more “mental health” scapegoats. Call it what it is: racism, hatred, and evil.

Photo by lascot studio