February is Black History Month, a time to “formally” celebrate the achievements of Black communities throughout the ages and to honor the legacies of Black leaders – many of whom are too often not given the recognition they deserve in the pages of history books. Black History is American History, and the lives and works of Black Americans are a fundamental part of the fabric of our country.
The contributions of Black Americans are far too numerous to be contained in one month. They span from Langston Hughes to Maya Angelou, Harriet Tubman to John Lewis, Muhammad Ali to Serena Williams, George Washington Carver to Katherine Johnson, Bayard Rustin to Laverne Cox, James Baldwin to Audre Lorde, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to President Barack Obama, and so many others.
We encourage our communities to take the time to read, learn, and share the incredible histories of Black Americans not just this month, but all year round. The Center for Racial Justice in Education has compiled a fantastic educational resource guide for Black History Month and beyond, which can be found here.
Our mission is to advocate for and deliver innovative, equitable, accessible health care, supportive services, and transformative research and education. We center LGBTQIA+ people, BIPOC individuals, and other underserved communities to enable our local, national, and global neighbors to flourish. As we enter Black History Month, we at Fenway Health honor and recognize the many people of color in our community, from staff members to patients to donors and volunteers.
Throughout this month, Fenway Health will be spotlighting Black LGBTQIA+ history makers with local ties. Please join us as we celebrate some of the amazing people who have made invaluable impacts on our Boston communities and beyond!