(Bailey, The Handbood for Worker’s Compensation Doctors, p170). The first case of Cumulative Trauma that really caught my attention in practice was that of a press operator who for 20 years repetitively used his right foot all day, every work day, in order to press a pedal. Just before I saw him, he started having pain in the right knee. On examination, his right knee was swollen. In comparing x-rays of both knees, the right knee was full of arthritic changes while the left knee was normal. Similarly, words used as weapon can cause mental and emotional problems by way of a “Big Bang” or by cumulative trauma. The manner in which Black people react to such word varies with the individual and at different times within the same individual.
By using the Thinker’s Scale to make “rules of thumb” comments, Zero with respect to “Black” as a weapon means Indifference--a lack of Caring. Black People sensitized to words of Indifference used by Europeans react with a sharpened attention as to who is the speaker or writer and to the words being conveyed. The question: “why is indifference being shown to me?” An advance into a hateful interpretation is Mild (or Minimal)--1 to 24 on both sides of the Thinker’s scale. It is a measured estimate concerning something that does not have much of an impact on the worth or on value of a person’s self-esteem. In the California Worker’s Compensation Plan, “mild” is roughly equivalent to Minimal Pain—an annoyance but no work handicap. With respect to the word “black,” a Mild interpretative feedback made by the receiver means that the speaker or writer comes under suspicion of being a racist. Slight is 25 to 49 on both sides of the scale. In the California Worker’s Compensation Plan it causes a superficial impact, as in pain that is tolerated despite some handicap. When the use of the word “black” by a European generates a Slight reaction, the listener is somewhat angry. A Black person may attempt to excuse that White person’s insensitivity as being out of ignorance of what affects Black People—an ignorance from failing to educate oneself as a result of not caring.
Moderate is 50 to 74 on both sides of the scale. In the California Worker’s Compensation Plan it represents a below surface impact or pain that is tolerated despite marked work handicap. When the use of the word “Black” by a European generates a Moderate reaction, the listener is very angry. The Black person may or may not react to the White person but is aware that the word is being used as a weapon. The susceptible Black person’s self-esteem is damaged. Extreme is 75 to 100 on both sides of the scale. In the California Worker’s Compensation Plan it is of much deeper impact than the other grades and, of course, 100 is the most significant of all. For example, Severe (i.e. Extreme) pain at work would prevent doing the activity that causes the pain. When the use of the word “black” by a European generates an Extreme reaction, the listener is likely to retaliate—and, as a result, go to jail!

Joseph A. Bailey, II, M.D.