“The Past is Prologue to the Future”

In 1926, the eminent historian Carter G. Woodson established “Negro History Week.” Designated as the second week in February, the annual event coincided with the birthdays of two figures significant in the history of African Americans – Abraham Lincoln, credited with signing the Emancipation Proclamation and Fredrick Douglass, the ardent abolitionist who once had been enslaved. Woodson intended the commemoration as an opportunity to celebrate the contributions of people of African descent all over the world. From that humble beginning, “Negro History Week” became Black History Month.

Although some question the relevance of Black History Month, it is hard to imagine what the world would look like without the accomplishments of people of African descent. Whether as inventors, educators, politicians, or entrepreneurs, African Americans have contributed significantly to the history of this country and the world. The same holds true for health.

Sheroes and heroes made tremendous strides in the past and contemporary trendsetters continue to revolutionize the science, practice, administration and art of health and healthcare. In honor of Black History Month, Health Watch wanted to consider some of these history makers and their contributions. Joining us to talk about African American health history makers was Dr. Cecil Cone, a pathologist and medical history buff from Meharry Medical College.

Dr. Cone shared with our listeners how the history of medicine in the United States owes a tremendous debt to the contributions of African Americans and people of African descent. Whether it is Dr. Daniel Hale Williams who performed the first successful open heart surgery in 1893 (and who still at Howard University is honored with an intercom page for “Dr. Dan” whenever a patient is in cardiac distress) to Dr Charles Drew who made critical strides in blood plasma and even established the nation’s first blood bank (yet when he was injured, was not able to access the same life-giving treatments he designed because of segregationist medical policies). Even the founding of medicine itself is a testament to Imhotep, an Egyptian astronomer, philosopher and healer as much as it is to Hippocrates. That legacy of African American history makers in health and science continues today.

Dr. Cone schooled us about current historical leaders in health. He reminded us that there have been three African American U.S. Surgeon Generals (including the current one, Dr. Regina Benjamin), along with several Tennessee Department of Health and Mental Health Commissioners, Dr. Kenneth Robinson, Mr. Eric Taylor, and Mr. Evelyn Robertson and local Public Health Department directors, namely Ms. Yvonne Madlock (Memphis) and Dr. Stephanie Bailey (formerly with the Nashville Health Department). It was clear from our conversation that the legacy African American leadership in health continues.

So in honor of past, present and future health makers, Health Watch salutes you. Just like these leaders Health Watch will continue to do its part to “make health happen.” We hope you will do the same. Until next time remember, “When we know better, we do better. So pass it on!”