As part of my English Education experience at Hope College, I have clinical placements in local schools. I love being able to work with and learn from area teachers and students. One of the things I learned this past week as the school acknowledged Black History Month was that each year a theme is chosen to focus on during Black History Month. I had not realized previously that there is a national theme each year since 1928.
The chosen themes are intended to highlight key areas each year and give people something to focus on during Black History Month. Themes are chosen by the Association for the study of African American Life and History based on relevant issues or events. This organization was established in 1915 by Carter Woodson, who also founded Black History Month.
The chosen theme for this year is “Black Health and Wellness.” It was chosen to acknowledge various wellness practices used by Black communities. An article from the Association for the study of African American Life and History explained that this theme honors 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.” This article also provides information on past themes to explore more!
Learn more information around the theme “Black Health and Wellness” through these articles from Empower Work, CNN, NPR, Mental Health America, and the UNC School of Medicine.
We hope you enjoy thinking about and exploring this theme throughout February. Let us know what you find in the comments!