Welcome to the 2022 Black History Celebration
Health and Wellness Series
By
John C Abercrombie
As we enter the 2022 Black History Celebration Month. We will change from our regular weekly posts to daily posts. The theme: “Health and Wellness.” We will cover people who have contributed to the health of the world and conditions that affect the Black community disportional. As such we will start with a 23 year old Black female chemist who produced a cure for leprosy and has remained largely uncredited for her work.
Below this introduction you will find individual descriptions and links to each post in the series. Below that you will find some excellent resources that you will want to refer to throughout the year. Continue to scroll down.
Use this link to connect with the entire series. This post will be updated daily and is one that you can use to refer to for the entire month. It is one that you will want to share with teachers, family and friends. The link can be shared by email or as I frequently do with text messages.
While there is a lot of debate on the need for Black History Month, ranging from those who believe that it is unnecessary to those who believe that it can’t be compressed to one month. There are some who feel that it marginalizes rather than enhances an entire race of people.
The original celebration was proposed by Dr Carter G Woodson as a means of calling attention to a subject that has been overlooked when it comes to educating the citizens of this country. Many are left with the false notion that Black History starts with slavery. Overlooking the fact that there were indications that Africans had traded with people in the America’s before the time of Columbus.
We are not told that the first person to die in the American Revolutionary War was a Black Man, Crispus Attucks. That Wentworth Cheswell rode the night that Paul Revere rode and that it was his ride that brought the reinforcements that influenced the outcome of the war.
We are not told of the vital role played by James Armistead Lafayette in winning the war for the Consentient Army.
We are not told the horrors of slavery, the cruelty inflicted on the slaves or the wealth that was built for this young country and other countries around the world. The fact that Blacks were resistant to enslavement, resisted it and were resilient in dealing with the effects or that the effects are still in place today. We are not told about the skills that these people brought to America.
Rice was an important crop in building the wealth of South Carolina and brought in slaves who knew how to grow the crop which the Whites did not know how to do.
We are not told of the infidelity of the slave owners.
We neglect to include the educational advances of the African continent and fail to mention that in the early days Greeks and Romans got their education in Africa. The thousands of manuscripts that are still awaiting translation in places like Timbuktu. The historians function as if Egypt is not on the continent of Africa. They neglect to show the role that people like Onesimus played in bringing knowledge of vaccinations to America and the benefit that resulted in eradication of smallpox.
Woodson believed that once the accomplishments of Blacks were known that they would be incorporated into mainstream education and would eliminate the need for a specific celebration, but alas, we have not come anywhere near that lofty goal.
While we include many achievements, it is impossible to imagine the entire experience without looking at the difficulties that have been faced both past and present. We therefore attempt to bring balance to the picture.
Today we include information on the theme of “Health and Well” but include a preview of what got us to this point. Consider the following as you prepare to learn, teach and share the importance of this often overlooked but vital part of our history.
You can use today’s link to link to all of the posts in this series which will be updated daily from now through February 28. Learn and share.
To see other posts as they are added, refer to this post
Day 1
Ball, Alice Augusta
23 year old Black Female who developed a cure for leprosy. Prior to this many people were kept in leprosy colonies for life for fear that they would infect others.
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Day 2 – Wednesday February 2, 2022
Onesimus – African introduces America to the practice of vaccinating in the 1700s.
With Smallpox raging, Onesimus introduced Cotton Mather to the practice of vaccinating, reducing the death rate from a deadly disease. Rather than being a backward people Africans were very advanced in medicine.
To see the post on Onesimus, click this link.
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Day 3, Thursday, February 3, 2022
Today’s post features Kizzmekia Corbett the lead scientist in the development of the Moderna COVID 19 vaccine. She is now on the faculty of Harvard University.
To see the amazing woman and her work, click this link.
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Day 4, Friday, February 4, 2022
Dr Charles Drew developed the blood bank during World War II. His work saved countless lives and continues to do so today. Working with the American Red Cross, he left the organization over their demand that separate blood banks be set up. Today a single blood bank is still working.
Dr Charles Drew Saving Lives with the Blood Bank
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We will continue to pose every day this month
Day 5, Saturday February 5, 2022
Today we feature Dr Justina Ford the first Black Female doctor in Colorado. Her home currently houses the Black America West Museum and Cultural Center in Denver. Known as the baby doctor we explore this amazing doctor
Dr Justina Ford – The Baby Doctor
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Day 6 February 6, 2022
Dr. Leonidas Berry: inventor and pioneer in endoscopy and gastroscopy with a long medical career was born July 20, 1902, in Wooddale, North Carolina. His parents were an African Methodist Episcopal minister and a schoolteacher.
Day 7 February 7, 2022
The focus of this post is Sickle Cell Disease. We dig into what it is and the consequences.
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Day 8, February 8, 2022
The focus of this post is Dr Rebecca Crumpler – First Black Female Doctor in America
Crumpler, Dr Rebecca Lee – First Black Female Physician in the United States
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Day 9, February 9, 2022
Today the focus is on Dr Patricia Bath who has made significant advances in cataract surgery. I have personally benefitted from her work and chances are that you or someone you know has as well
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Day 10 Thursday February 10
In this post we look into Kidney it Disease, a condition that affects Blacks disportionally. It is known as a silent because it progresses without obvious symptoms. Be sure to keep an eye on your health by regular visits to your health care team.
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Day 11, Friday, February 11, 2022
This post features the 320 Balloon Battalion, a little known group that landed with the main fighting group on the D-Day invasion. Included was a medic Waverly Woodson who should have been awarded the Medal of Honor, except the records needed were burned in a fire in the custody of The United States.
320th Barrage Balloon Battalion – Waverly Woodson
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Day 12, Saturday, Saturday February 12, 2022
Today the focus of our post is on Post Traumatic Slave sy, ndrome. We answer your questions; what is it, is it real and do I have it. All people will want to read this post
DeGruy Leary, Dr Joy – Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome
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Day 13, Sunday, February 13, 2022
This post focuses on Dr Daniel Hale Williams, the first physician to perform successful surgery on a living human heart. He also formed a hospital and contributed greatly to the training of nurses
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Day 14, Monday February 14, 2022
The focus of today’s post is asthma. It is much more than a temporary condition corrected by a puff of an inhaler. You need to be aware of the condition, causes and ways to moderate them. We give it to you with the link below
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Day 15, February 15, 2022
A former slave becomes skilled in the field of surgery leading to a cure of Blue Baby Syndrome. Refused admission to medical school, he worked with the famed Dr Blalock, who would not preform surgery without him in attendance. So skilled that Dr Blalock told him that his work looked like something God made.
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Day 16, February 16, 2022
Dr Percy Julian was a great chemist who changed the world with his amazing work and opened the door for many other great people to advance medicine. His house was bombed just because of the color of his skin but he persisted and succeeded.
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Day 17, Thursday February 17, 2022
Today’s post is about a subject that is often times overlooked in a public setting but it is time to take this subject seriously. It all begins with an understanding that comes from being open and frank about mental health, There should be no shame in having or talking about it. Failure is not an option. This is the first of a 2 part discussion.
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Day 18, Friday February 18, 2022
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Day 19, Saturday February 19, 2022
Brigadier General Hazel Johnson Brown the first Black Female in the United states Army began her career as a nurse. This post has a video series that is very insightful and should be watched in its entirety.
Brigadier General Hazel Johnson Brown
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Day 20 – Sunday February 20, 2022
Medical Apartheid – many of us live with the knowledge that Blacks have been used in medical experimentation. This post focuses on it with the intent of educating our readers.
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Day 21, Monday February 21, 2022
The focus is on the devastating disease of diabetes. In the interest of transparency, this post features my college classmate Dr James R Gavin, III
Dr James R Gavin, III – Diabetes
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Day 22, Tuesday February 22, 2022
The focus of todays post is hypertension, a silent killer. It is silent because there are often no symptoms until late in the game. Knowledge is power over your health and this is the source to start your journey to better health. This condition can cause other serious conditions.
Hypertension – High Blood Pressure
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Day 23, Wednesday February 23, 2022
Lucy Higgs Nichols was an escaped slave who became a Union nurse during the American Civil War. Affectionately called “Aunt Lucy”. She was much revered by the soldiers who played a vital role in her getting a pension for her service.
This is an amazing story!
Lucy Higgs Nichols – Escaped slave who became a Union nurse during the Civil War
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Day 24, Thursday February 24, 2022
Dr Levi Walker, Jr was a brilliant cardiac surgeon is the first to implant a defibrillator into a patient. He was also a pioneer in the use of ACE inhibitors.
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Day 25, Friday February 25, 2022
Today we feature Dr Alexa Canady, the first Black female pediatric neurosurgeon. of course she was discouraged from going into the profession. We see that belief in ourselves is critically important to our success.
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Day 26, Saturday February 26, 2022
Today we feature a Black nurse in the American Civil War. She was educated in a bucket school. So called because it was necessary to hid books from Whites who viewed educating of Blacks to be a crime.
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Day 27, Sunday February 27, 2022
The feature today is Henrietta Lacks, one of the most important donors in the history of medicine. Contributions that have led to the eradication of polio and so many other advances. Lacks has not been acknowledged for her contributions and deprived of the billion dollar industry that she helped develop.
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Day 28, Monday February 28, 2022
This post features Otis Boykin a great inventor who is best known for his work on the pacemaker.
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Notice: We will start a series of 31 of the most remarkable women on March 1, 2022. We will have a link connecting all posts as we did with the “Health and Wellness” series. You don’t want to miss this!
Coming tomorrow Day 27, Sunday February 27, 2022
Another exciting adventure into Health and Wellness
You don’t want to miss it!
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Every Sunday, I will be hosting a discussion on Black history at 4 – 5 PM ET. Contact information follows
Ways to Listen and Interact with Us:
- By phone Login to your BlogTalkRadio Schedule program Guest Call In(646) 668-8217
Computer Radio Station Link –blogtalkradio.com/crowntalkingdrums
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B6lack History Month Resources
Dr Carter G Woodson – The Father of Black History
Carter G Woodson – the father of Black History
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Dr Carter G Woodson – His Work
Carter G Woodson – His Work Carter G Woodson – His work
The Schomburg Center
A world class collection of Black History inspired by a 5th grade teacher who told Arturo Schomburg that there was NO African history. Nothing of value. Schomburg dedicated his life to proving that teacher wrong and Schomburg did an amazing job with his collection.
Schomburg – The man who built a library
Black History Shirts
Black History Books – Kids
ABH – Black History Books Kids
Black History Books
We will continue to post weekly after this 2022 Black History Month Celebration series. Check often.