CelebratingBlack History Month 2022
By
Pamela Johnson
Tuesday, February 1, 2022
Carter G. Woodson (pictured circa 1948) is recognized asthe“Father of Black History Month.”
Black History Month, also known as African American History Month, is an annual observance during February in the United States that acknowledges and honorsBlacks'contributions to U.S.history. TheseBlacks are the descendants of enslaved Africans shipped to the Americas via the Atlantic slave trade between the 16th and 19th centuries.During this time,Black peopleoften reflect on theirhistory, obstacles overcomeandthechallenges and progress still to be made.
From the arts to medicine, education, music, cultural inventions, entrepreneurship, civil rights leaders, noble laureates, etcetera,Blacks have played an influential role in shaping America and are paid tribute to throughout the month.
There areseveralSFMTA Black History Month events,includingthevirtualevent,Recognizing andHonoringthe late Bernard J. Tyson, formerCEO of Kaiser Permanente CEO.This event isplanned bytheBlack and African American Affinity Groupand willtake placeonFebruary16from12p.m.to 1 p.m.
Thetheme forBlack History Monthcommemorationhosted by the BLACKand African American Affinity Group (BAAAG)focuses on the importance of Blackhealth andwellness.We’lldiscuss topics around health, dietand medical care. We’ll honor the legacy and accomplishments of Blacks in medicine like Bernard J. Tyson, former CEO of Kaiser Permanente. Hestarted as an intern at Kaiser after earning his undergraduate degree. Before climbing the ranks at Kaiser, the largest managed care organization in the United States, Tyson held numerous leadership positions at the company, chief executive officer of the Kaiser Foundation Hospital in Santa Rosa, senior vice present and chief operation officer for regions outside of California, and senior vice president of health plan operations. In 2010 he was promoted to Chief Operating Officer of Kaiser Permanente, serving until his untimely passing in 2019.
Dr. Daniel HaleWilliamsperformed the world’s first successful heart surgery.Dr.Rebecca LeeCrumplerwasthe first African American woman to earn a medical degreeand become a medical doctor in the United States.Before attendingNew England Female Medical Collegetostudy and become a doctor, she wasa nurse.She experienced racism and sexism.The male doctorsdisrespectedher. They would not approve herprescriptionsand ignored her medical opinions.
For example, did you know thatin1891, Williams founded ProvidentHospital in Chicago It wasthe firstnon-segregatedhospital?The hospital provided a residency training program for doctors and nurses.Established to increase blacks' access to health care primarily,Providentalso served white patients.
Also,didyou knowthatDr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler was one of the first female physician authors in the nineteenth century?In1883, she publishedA Book of Medical Discoursescoveringprevention and cure of infantile bowel complaints, and the life and growth of human beings.Crumpler went on to work for the Freedman’s Bureau, where she provided medical care to freed slaves
Black History Month Facts
Carter G. Woodson is recognized asthe“Father of Black History Month.”
In 1926, Carter G. Woodson started celebrating "Negro History Week" (the precursor of Black History Month) to commemorate the hard work of African Americans in American society.
In 1976,theNegro History Weekcelebration was expanded to the entire month by President Gerald Ford and celebrated throughout the country. Ford said that this country needed to,"seize the opportunity to honor the too-oftenneglected accomplishments ofBlack Americans in every area ofendeavorthroughout ourhistory."Since 1976, every U.S. president has officially designated the month of February as Black History Month.
The second weekinFebruarywaschosenbecause it included the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln on February12andFrederick Douglass onFebruary 14.
Frederick Douglass escaped slavery.OnAugust 10, 1863, Abraham Lincoln met with Frederick Douglass in the White House.His visit was unannounced. Lincoln came to value Douglass’s perspective andcandor.
It iscelebrated in Canada in February. It is celebrated in Ireland and the United Kingdom (During October)
LocalBlack History Month Events
Feb.1-28:African American Art & Culture Complex—Multiple events762 Fulton Street(nearbyMuni routes:5, 9 and 49)
Feb2:MoAD: Black Cinema & Social Change Lecture Serieswith Dr. Artel Great—6-8p.m.,Virtual
Feb.2: Panel:Black Health: San Francisco —10-11:30 a.m. Koret Auditorium San Francisco Main Library,100 Larkin Street (nearbyMuniroutes:KT,M,N7,9and9R)
Feb.3: Film:High on the Hog—Noon-2,p.m.Koret Auditorium San Francisco Main Library,100 Larkin Street (nearbyMuniroutes:KT,M,N,7,9and9R)
Feb.4:SF Public LibraryTutorial:The Vegan Hood ChefsNoon to 1p.m.,Virtual
Feb. 9:SF Public LibraryPanel:Black Inventors and Innovators Making Their MarkVirtual
Feb.24:MoAD:Community Voices: Poets SpeakClosing Reception—6- 8p.m.MoADSalon685 Mission Street(nearbyMuni routesKT,M,Nand14,14Rand7)
Join the SFMTA in honoring theachievementsof African Americans and celebrating Black History Month2022.
