Abstract
ABSTRACT: Racism left an indelible mark on Bernardine Lacey and her professional growth as a nurse, including roles as an educator, political advocate, researcher, clinician, and leader. This article uses oral history methods to detail, in Lacey's own words, experiences from her childhood and early in her education and career. Her story allows for an exploration of some of the difficult truths about racism, the culpable role of nursing in this history, and the impact of historical accounts on the profession's current inclusivity and diversity efforts.