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ASALH 2022 BHM Schedule of Events

Schedule of Virtual Events

Join the ASALH in celebrating Black History Month by attending one of their virtual events! Via Zoom, you can join book discussions and attend seminars about topics you may never have thought about before. Peruse the offerings on the website linked above, and be sure to let a librarian know if you attended any of the events!

Helpful Videos

PrEPare Black Women: Health Inequity in PrEP Access

Dr. Olivia Nathan explores lack of access to adequate HIV treatment, preventative drugs, and education to Black women.

A Recipe for Health Equity in the 21st Century

Dr. Renasia Anthony discusses the impact of race, gender, and background on her life and the lives of the people she serves.

Changing views on Mental Health in the Black Community

Chante Meadows, a trained therapist with her own private practice, discusses the barriers between the Black community and mental health resources.

Black History Month 2022: Black Health and Wellness

ASALH Black History 2022 Themes

Since its beginnings in 1926, Black History Month has been celebrated through the lens of a central theme each year, chosen by the ASALH. The theme allows educators and celebrants to focus in on certain aspects of Black History as well as the current Black experience in the United States. This years theme is Black Health and Wellness, focusing on Black health professionals and efforts to bolster Black health and medical care options throughout history and today. To find out more about the theme, visit the ASALH's website linked above.

ASALH 2022 Theme Materials

The above link is a curated list of materials to educate people on topics surrounding Black health and wellness. The ASALH compiled this list to accompany their virtual events and discussion forums, but it can be utilized by anyone for things like book clubs, personal reading, or classroom reading. Please note that while the links on the above webpage take you to Amazon to purchase these books, a better use of your money this Black History Month would be purchasing from Black-owned businesses. Below are some local Black-owned and operated bookstores that could use your support this month and every month.

Frugal Bookstore- The only Black-owned bookstore in Boston!
Olive Tree Books' n' Voices
More Than Words Warehouse Bookstore
Susie's Stories

Black Healthcare in America

Organizations

Center for Disease Control on Health Equity
To celebrate Black History Month, the CDC published this page on Black Health and Wellness. It gives a run down of the different barriers to adequate health care that Black Americans face.
The Center for Black Health and Equity
With offices in North Carolina, Georgia, and Ohio, the Center for Black Health and Equity was created to address health inequity specifically around tobacco use and cancer in African American populations. Since its inception, the center has broadened its focus to address HIV/AIDS and COVID-19 health disparities among Black communities. Follow this link to learn more about their methods, research, and partnerships with other minority health focused organizations.
NAMI African American Mental Health Resources
The National Alliance on Mental Illness published this webpage of mental health education resources, emergency hotlines, organizations, and research on Black Mental Health in America. It is rich in videos and articles detailing the barriers to mental and physical healthcare in place for Black Americans, and offers a rich array of resources to help Black Americans navigate culturally competent care.
Howard Brown Health Organization
Howard Brown Health have provided affirming health care to minorities and LGBTQ+ members since the early 1970s. Based in Chicago, Howard Brown was instrumental in developing the Hepatitis B vaccine in the 1970s. The organization provides life affirming healthcare to the underserved while pushing for legislative change to bridge the health care gap in America. Check out their about page at the link above, and follow the link below to read their Black History Month Blog post.

Howard Brown Health Black History Month 2022

News and Journal Articles

Gentrification, Neighborhood Change, and Population Health: a Systematic Review
This article published in January of 2020 gives an overview of literature on gentrification's impact on Black health and wellness. In order to understand health disparities, one needs to look at the socioeconomic factors causing fractures in healthcare services and their availability.
Improving the health of African Americans in the USA: an overdue opportunity for social justice
Also published by the Public Health Review, this article takes a comprehensive look at the literature surrounding efforts to close the gap in health care for Black Minorities in America. It discusses the main social determinants of health and main health disparities, risk factors, the leading causes of morbidity and mortality, and access to health services for Black people in the USA.
Community Health Centers Push for Equity in the Pandemic
This article, published by a local NPR affiliate, gives an overview on the history of local health centers and community health care. Today's community health centers and mobilized COVID-19 facilities have their roots in the civil rights movement, particularly with the invention of local health clinics. Read the article for more information on both historical efforts to fix health disparities and how they've inspired efforts today.