“Dr. Charles Drew: Medical Pioneer” by Susan Whitehurst.
The Children’s World, Minnesota, 2002, 40 pages, Grades 3-5.
Racial discrimination has been a plague afflicting the United States for hundreds of years. At its most basic form, racial discrimination is the negative, damning idea that people are inferior because of their color.
When people suffer because of racial discrimination, they commonly respond in two ways. First, they can lash out violently at those causing the problem. The trouble with this approach is that violence doesn’t necessarily cure violence. Sometimes, it cause more anger.
The second method is to endure and overcome the bigotry. It takes great courage to use this approach. However, this approach can be quite successful in the long term. An example of this is the life of Jackie Robinson, the first black major league baseball player.
This second approach is chosen by Dr. Charles Drew, the brilliant subject of this biography. Susan Whitehurst writes a compelling biography of this great doctor and scientist. It is entitled, “Dr. Charles Drew: Medical Pioneer.”
Young Charles is born in Washington D.C. on June 3, 1904. His family heritage includes a mixture of Irish, Native American, English and African. The Drews are a stable family and highly value education. From his earliest years, Charlie shows great promise academically and athletically.
Though he has red hair and freckles, Charlie is deemed by society to be African-American. He attends one of the finest black high schools in the United States and attends Amherst College in Massachusetts on a scholarship. One day he suffers a severe leg injury in a football game and is hospitalized. After observing the doctors making rounds, he decides to become a physician.
Since few medical schools will accept black students, he applies and is accepted at McGill University in Montreal. There he becomes an outstanding student and graduates with a Doctor of Medicine and a Master of Surgery. Upon returning to the United States, Dr. Drew is hired by Howard University as a medical professor. Howard is the preeminent medical school for African Americans in the United States.
It is here that Dr. Drew begins to develop an interest in the storage of blood. Even with refrigeration, whole blood begins to break down after 24 hours. With the increased need for blood transfusions, hospitals are desperate to lengthen the time that blood can be used. Dr. Drew begins thinking deeply about the four elements of blood: the red blood cells, the white blood cells, the platelets and the plasma. The red blood cells are the problem, as they break down the fastest. He begins looking at other parts of blood. What might be possible if blood transfusions could be made using the clear, liquid part of blood, the plasma? Plasma doesn’t deteriorate quickly.
Dr. Drew begins experimenting with plasma and makes an astonishing discovery that will change the face of medicine. It doesn’t come too soon, either. World War II has erupted and thousands of people need Drew’s discovery. What is it?
How does this brilliant man change medical practices throughout the world? How does he overcome the racial prejudice he has encountered in his life? Why is he truly a hero in the medical world? To find out the answers to these questions, go to the library and check out this fine biography, “Dr. Charles Drew: Medical Pioneer.”
This is an excellent biography for middle school students. It also lays to rest the falsehood that white doctors stood by as Dr. Drew bled to death after his fatal car crash. The truth is that the white physicians left their less critically ill white patients and diligently tried to save his life. Unfortunately, Drew’s injuries were too serious.
This is a commendable book, and students will learn a great deal about a noble American. Please encourage them to read the book.
