The timely new documentary, The Color of Medicine: The Story of Homer G. Phillips Hospital shines a light on the disparity between the medical treatment that the African-American community receives as opposed to others; an issue that has never been more evident than it has been during the time of COVID-19.
Presented by Vision Films, The Color of Medicine: The Story of Homer G. Phillips Hospital not only tells the astonishing history of the first all-black hospital in St. Louis, but also recognizes and celebrates the achievements of the brave healthcare workers who were among the first black physicians and nurses to be medically trained in the United States.
Directed by Joyce Marie Fitzpatrick and Brian Shackelford, The Color of Medicine: The Story of Homer G. Phillips Hospital explores the role the hospital played in being one of the first institutions in the country to treat African-Americans in a safe, hygienic and sterile environment. The opening of the hospital meant that African-Americans in the community were no longer without medical care or resorting to illegal and dangerous methods of treatment. Homer G. Phillips Hospital was of utmost importance from its opening in 1937 to its dramatic closure in 1979, which incited riots in its neighborhood of “The Ville.”
The Color of Medicine: The Story of Homer G. Phillips Hospital will be available on DVD and VOD on May 12, 2020.
Synopsis
Boasting the largest number of black doctors and nurses in the world, Homer G.Phillips Hospital opened its doors in 1937 during a time in history when America still had segregated medical facilities. Through first-hand accounts, witness the controversial history of the hospital’s medical training and how it continues to affect the lives of its practitioners, patients, and community. While its founder attorney Homer G. Phillips was mysteriously killed, the hospital in his name thrived during the most turbulent of segregated times, allowing so many people of color to achieve greatness for the benefit of humankind.
The Color of Medicine: The Story of Homer G. Phillips Hospital will be available on May 12, 2020, on digital from platforms including iTunes, Vudu, Google Play, Xbox, Amazon, and FandangoNow, as well as cable affiliates everywhere and to buy on DVD for $12.99 online at all major retailers.