According to History.com, “President Gerald Ford officially recognized Black History Month in 1976, calling upon the public to ‘seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.’ Today, Black History Month is a time to honor the contributions and legacy of African Americans across U.S. history and society—from activists and civil rights pioneers such as Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, Marcus Garvey, Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X and Rosa Parks to leaders in industry, politics, science, culture and more.”
The Black History Month 2022 theme, “Black Health and Wellness,” explores “the legacy of not only Black scholars and medical practitioners in Western medicine, but also other ways of knowing (e.g., birthworkers, doulas, midwives, naturopaths, herbalists, etc.) throughout the African Diaspora. The 2022 theme considers activities, rituals and initiatives that Black communities have done to be well.”
In keeping with the theme of Black Health & Wellness, we wanted to share a few resources focused on the Afro-American Community & Aging:
- See Sisters from AARP, a website & free weekly newsletter celebrating Black women as they age.
- Check out this article from NextAvenue on Aging While Black, which acknowledges that ageism takes a bigger toll on those bearing the weight of racism.
- Sage: Sistahs Aging with Grace & Elegance is an online community that empowers and supports African American women with tools and resources. Check out their website.
- Interesting health statistics from HHS’ Office of Minority Health on trends for African Americans and Heart Disease.
- Learn about African Americans who made important contributions to public health throughout our country’s history here.