Confessions of Melanated Docs

Melanated Docs Episode 17: "At What Cost?" Black Women, Job Loss, and the Price of Resilience

Black women are often celebrated for their strength, but who pays when that strength is expected to absorb every blow? In 2025, Black women lost a net 113,000 jobs. At one point they accounted for more than half of all job losses among women, despite making up just 14% of the female workforce. In September 2026, Black unemployment jumped to 7%, nearly double the rate for white workers.

In this episode, Dr. Trina and Dr. Keisha unpack the numbers behind these losses: federal layoffs, the rollback of DEI programs, and the surprising finding that college-educated Black women were hit hardest. As doctors, they also look at what this means for health care, both for Black women working in the field and for the patients and communities who depend on them. Resilience has a price. This episode asks who's been paying it.

In this episode:

• Dr. Peggy Carr's dismissal and what it symbolizes for Black women in public service • The latest labor data, and why the Office of Personnel Management's pause on workforce demographic reporting matters • How DEI rollbacks disproportionately removed roles held by highly qualified Black women • Economist William Spriggs's "canary in the coal mine" warning: rising Black unemployment signals risk for the whole labor market • Why the Institute for Women's Policy Research expects healthcare, education, and social work to be affected • Lost benefits, extended-family households, and the multi-person ripple of a single layoff • Entrepreneurship as a lifeline, and its hidden costs (no benefits, inconsistent revenue) • Federal cuts to safety-net clinics, medication nonadherence, and chronic disease risk • The toll on professional identity and mental health after years of overperformance • Pushing back on the "lazy" stereotype: this is structural, and it crosses income levels Practical takeaways: 1 Keep an up-to-date record of your accomplishments, credentials, and performance reviews. 2 Know your COBRA and marketplace insurance enrollment deadlines before you need them. 3 Tap Black-focused job boards, group chats, and professional networks. 4 Diversify your income streams, and keep watching for opportunities even while employed. 5 Lean on community. Sharing your story reduces isolation. 6 Make your mental health a priority, not an afterthought. Resources mentioned: • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: bls.gov • Institute for Women's Policy Research: iwpr.org • Health insurance marketplace: healthcare.gov • COBRA information: dol.gov/general/topic/health-plans/cobra • Therapy for Black Girls directory: therapyforblackgirls.com • 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: call or text 988

Sources:

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, "The Employment Situation — September 2026" (Oct. 2, 2026): https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm
• Institute for Women's Policy Research, "Black Women Disproportionately Sidelined in Year One of Trump's Second Term" (Feb. 10, 2026): https://iwpr.org/press/iwpr-new-report-black-women-disproportionately-sidelined-in-year-one-of-trumps-second-term/
• Economic Policy Institute, "Black women suffered large employment losses in 2025—particularly among college graduates and public-sector workers" (Feb. 10, 2026): https://www.epi.org/blog/black-women-suffered-large-employment-losses-in-2025-particularly-among-college-graduates-and-public-sector-workers/
• The New York Times, "Black Unemployment Rose Sharply in September, Jobs Report Shows" (Oct. 2, 2026)
• The New York Times, "In Trump's Federal Work Force Cuts, Black Women Among the Hardest Hit" (Aug. 31, 2025): https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/31/us/politics/trump-federal-work-force-black-women.html

Join the conversation: Has a layoff affected you or someone you love? Share your story or suggest a future topic in the comments. New episodes drop every two week. Subscribe so you don't miss what's next.

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Our Production Team: Dr. Keisha Butler, Dr. Catrina Johnson, @gaspargomez, @parallelplaypopup

Hot flashes are just the beginning. On this episode of Melanated Docs, Dr. Trina and Dr. Keisha sit down with Dr. Megan Thomas for a candid conversation about menopause and perimenopause in Black women — from the symptoms nobody warned you about (brain fog, tinnitus, itchy skin, sudden weight gain) to the diagnostic dismissals so many women face in primary care. Dr. Thomas shares her own journey to diagnosis, breaks down what real hormone therapy looks like and gets honest about the cultural silence around menopause in Black families. If you've ever been told "it's probably just stress" — this episode is for you.

Dr. Trina, Dr. Keisha, and guest Dr. Megan Thomas dig into how menopause and perimenopause actually show up for Black women — and why so many symptoms go unrecognized until they've been disrupting daily life for months.

Topics covered:

The symptom list nobody gives you — beyond hot flashes: brain fog, insomnia, itchy/dry skin, midsection weight gain, urinary changes, hair thinning, and tinnitus. Dr. Megan shares her own experience of brain fog for 3–6 months before getting a diagnosis.

Getting dismissed in primary care — why so many women are sent home with a pregnancy test instead of real answers, and what comprehensive labs (hormones, vitamin D, inflammation markers, lipids) should actually look like.

Treatment, demystified — systemic hormone replacement (pellets vs. pills), testosterone, vaginal estrogen cream, and how providers use labs and symptom surveys to fine-tune a regimen over time.

The mental health connection — how menopause can unmask or worsen anxiety and depression, and why psychiatric and hormonal care need to be coordinated, not siloed.

Lifestyle and self-advocacy — symptom journaling, building a trusted support network, supplements (vitamin D, fish oil, ashwagandha, black cohosh), and adjusting exercise for bone and metabolic health.

The generational silence — why so many Black women were never taught to talk about menstruation or menopause, and what it takes to break that cycle.

Key Takeaways 1. Symptoms vary widely and can start earlier than expected — don't wait for hot flashes

to start asking questions.

2. Diagnosis takes real labs and, often, a specialist — primary care alone may not catch it.

3. Self-advocacy and community are treatment tools too — track your symptoms, find your people, and don't settle for a provider who won't dig deeper.

Dr. Megan's Recommendations

Keep a daily symptom journal (sleep, mood, hot flashes, cognition) Talk to other women — build a trusted network for shared experience and referrals Find a clinician experienced in HRT, and be willing to repeat labs and surveys Prioritize sleep, rest, and joy alongside any medical treatment.

Please email questions or comments to:

[email protected]

Check out our episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify.

Stay Connected on Social Media:

Instagram: @melanateddocs

Facebook: Melanated Docs

The hashtag for this podcast is #melanateddocs

X: @melanated_docs

Our Production Team: Dr. Keisha Butler, Dr. Catrina Johnson, @gaspargomez, @parallelplaypopup

Hey! This week we chat with Dr. Keisha about her next chapter in life. Being a new mom of twins can be streessful to say the least. Take a listen to hear how she is overcoming new challenges in this new chapter of life.

Let's be real, eathing healthy can be challenging. Many of us have the best intentions to eat right and to be healthy and fit. But, junk food calls our names. We chat it up with Stephanie Rice, RD to discuss some of these problems. As a registered dietician, she teaches us about healthy eating habits and ways to make better choices. Also Chronic illnesses can play a huge role in influencing what we eat, especially if we want to live longer. Sometimes we have to modify our food choices secondary to various illnesses. Stephanie speaks with us on how we can still enjoy life eating foods we enjoy while being cognizant of illnesses and watching our weight.

In this episode of Confessions of Melanated Docs, we chat with Yvette who is the owner of Purpose Travel Group. We discuss traveling while black and places that melanated individuals should visit. We also discuss her initiative with her foundation "Assisting Kids in African Villages". Please tune in and learn helpful traveling tips and how you can book amazing trips curated for the melanated experience.

In this episode we talk with Dr. Megan Thomas about being a boss and having a blended family. She gets real about her life and how she manages it all. She is an inspiration to those who don't take the traditional path and blazes their own. Her story is a great example of hard work and perseverance. You do not want to miss this episode! Please listen and tell us what you think.

This week we sat down with Dr. Natasha Pyfrom as we discussed sex, dating and many things in between. Dr. Pyfrom is currently practicing as a Family Medicine Physician. In this episode, she gives us invaluable wisdom, lessons learned and several pearls for everyday life. Trust us, you don't want to miss this one. Everything is up for discussion. Tune in and let us know what you think.

Hey y'all hey! We are back for the new year. We can't wait to share our new experiences with everyone. On this episode of "Confessions of Melanated Docs" we talk with Dr. Morgan Price about motherhood, family structure, and being a young professional. Family structure can look different for many individuals especially now. On this episode, we have an honest discussion about how Dr. Price navigates this new era in her life all while being a Boss! Please listen and let us know what you think.

01:41 Introduction of Dr. Morgan Price

04:28 Why did Dr. Price decide to become a dentist and who helped sparked the interest

06:56 How is dentistry different from her early exposure vs. now being a dentist

09:11 What Surprised her the most about dentistry

09:40 Leadership roles as a dentist

10:48 Being in leadership while being young and melanated

12:30 Roadblocks while being in a leadership position

14:22 Will sexism and ageism ever change?

16:46 Ageism dissected

18:30 Being a new Mom as a professional

19:17 Fed is Best

20:51 Mommy Guilty and managing body changes

23:00 Cabbages and breasts

24:25 Waiting to become a mother

26:37 Do you loose a part of yourself to become a mother?

28:12 Being a single mom

30:15 Single mothers by choice

34:19 Changes in the family structure

36:30 Navigating different roles in life

37:31 What would you rather?

43:47 What's next to accomplish

46:07 Confession time

Social Media has been very poignant to our lives in numerous ways over the years. It has allowed us to form connections that we didn't know were possible and forge new communities. Please join us along with Camellia Green, a licensed mental health provider, as we delve into the positive and negative impacts of social media. We will also discuss helpful tools to navigate social media.

"Honestly..." is a new segment of our podcast "Confessions of Melanated Docs". Here we talk with other Melanated Docs about life, work, wellness, current events and more. This week our Melanated Docs Spotlight is on Dr. Aniika Jackson-Smith. Dr. Aniika Jackson-Smith is a native of New Orleans, LA. She received a Bachelor of Science Degree from Xavier University of Louisiana in 1999. In the years following graduation, she taught 7th grade science at Thurgood Marshall Middle School in New Orleans. In the fall of 2002 Dr. Jackson matriculated at Creighton University Medical Center School of Dentistry in Omaha, NE. She completed her studies at Creighton in 2006 earning a Doctor of Dental Surgery Degree. Upon graduation, she entered into a General Practice Residency at Louisiana State University School of Dentistry. Dr. Jackson was among some of the first healthcare providers to return to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. Thus, providing a much needed service to the citizens returning to rebuild the city.

In 2008 Dr. Jackson-Smith relocated to Kansas City. She enjoys treating patients and doing community outreach. She is committed to providing quality care to underserved, underinsured and uninsured individuals. As such, the majority of her 15 year career has been spent working in Federally Qualified Health Centers or similar institutions.

Over the years, she has mentored countless aspiring dental and medical professionals. You are also very likely to find her in school classrooms introducing students students to the dental profession and promoting HBCU's. She loves talking to youth about her profession and her beloved XU! She currently serves at Deputy Dental Director at one of the largest health centers in Missouri. She is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant who is passionate about improving the health outcomes of African-American infants and moms through breastfeeding advocacy and support.

In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her husband and 2 daughters, crafting and online "window" shopping. She is the owner of Nia Rae's Fine New Orleans Pecan Candy. She gets home to New Orleans as often as she can!

Check out our conversation on our podcast in "Honestly…"!