Celebrating Black History Feb 2021
Black History Month – A Bit of History & Personal Reflection
Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in U.S. history. Also known as African American History Month, the event grew out of “Negro History Week,” the brainchild of noted historian Carter G. Woodson and other prominent African Americans. Since 1976, every U.S. president has officially designated the month of February as Black History Month. Other countries around the world, including Canada and the United Kingdom, also devote a month to celebrating Black history. What may not be known is 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.” I would argue as many have that Black History Month is every month not just in February. Black people have been an integral part of American History and should be celebrated all year.
For me personally, as we commemorate Black History Month, it has been exactly 20 years (February 1st, 2001) since my first publication on Diversity in Emergency Medicine from Emory Emergency Medicine. In re-reading the manuscript and the recommendations that positioned Emory Emergency Medicine (EM) as a model program for diversity, the guiding principles are still promoted and are still in existence today. We understood then, as we do now, that the “diversity of the patients we treat demonstrates the need for EM programs to diversify their faculty and residency staff.” Clearly, our faculty, our residents, our APP’s, our staff and all who are part of this department are essential.
We employ the strategies that we have used since writing that first paper including expanding recruitment, and supporting retention of underrepresented students, faculty, and trainees. Strategies also include addressing barriers that may exist for promotion of underrepresented women and underrepresented students, mentoring underrepresented in medicine (URiM) faculty in research and education, and providing opportunities for URiMs to advance in the field. We believe then, as we do now, that leadership, commitment and intentionality which began with our founding Chair Arthur Kellermann, and continues forward today, is critical to the foundation of who we are. As a department, we have kept that promise to advance URiM’s in EM. Our most recent publication articulates our continued commitment to advancing URiM students, and we are especially thankful for our partnership with the Morehouse School of Medicine, the students we mentor and the patients who trust us to care for them. Emory EM marches forward - never stopping, always pushing. Our current and expanded leadership in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion maintains and shares our vision through the annual year in review of our DEI accomplishments. All of you are key to our mission, key to our vision.
A hidden figure who must be recognized is Sharon Ashley, as one of the longest members in our Department serving for 32 years, Sharon saw the vision. In her role as EM Program Coordinator, Sharon invited me to speak on Cultural Diversity in Emergency Medicine at the National EMED Residency Coordinators forum meeting in May of 2001. This was before any other organization invited me to do so. However, despite the two decades of deliberate focus to ensure our values are in alignment with the community we serve, 20 years later we are sadly in a country divided. Attention to educating our health care professionals on racism and the impact on health equity can no longer be denied. Health equity, the belief that all people have the opportunity to attain their best health, is a driving force. This will not be attained without deliberate attention to addressing those structures that unfairly disadvantage people based on how they look. That is racism.
Through the years, Emory Emergency Medicine maintains a diverse faculty, residents, fellows, and staff who are committed to caring for our most vulnerable patients. We have developed leaders across the department who are known locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally for their willingness to serve, and who are willing to learn and, more importantly, DO what is needed to attain social justice. We push forward and we are willing to be disruptive to the status quo to ensure our true north is clear. We have respect for and a profound belief in our humanity. With full confidence in the next 20 years, we know that Emory EM will be even better than we are today. Our history and foundational vision will be a part of Black History in Emergency Medicine. As the Associate Dean of Community Engagement, Equity and Inclusion for the School of Medicine, it has been an honor to reflect on the foundation that Emory EM has personally laid for me to grow and develop in what will be my 25 years as a faculty member at Emory.
As we pause to reflect and remember notables in Black History, one who recently died Cicely Tyson to one whose poetry “The Hill we Climb” riveted the nation at inauguration 2021 Amanda Gorman, please read these inspiring quotes and share with your family and friends.
We march on, as is said, until victory is won.
Sheryl Heron