February is Black History Month

February marks Black History Month, a national awareness campaign to highlight and honor the the many contributions and sacrifices of African Americans, as well as celebrate the rich cultural heritage and triumphs of Black Americans.

On February 1, Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH)  President Dr. W. Marvin Dulaney, Associate Professor Emeritus and former Interim Director of the Center for African American Studies at the University of Texas, Arlington, and former Deputy Director and COO of the African American Museum in Dallas, unveiled the 2022 National Black History Theme, “Black Health and Wellness.”

As we enter our third year of of the COVID-19 pandemic we increasingly recognize racism as public health crisis and are keenly aware of the ways in which African Americans have been disproportionately affected by health concerns throughout the history of our nation. COVID-19 has disproportionately impacted minority communities and placed additional and unique burdens on Black health care professionals.

Throughout the month of February, the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) will host a Virtual Festival around Black Health and Wellness. Click here to learn more.

Learn more about Black History in Maine. Click here to listen to the 2019 Maine Calling (Maine Public Radio) podcast, “Black History in Maine: The Stories and Contributions of Maine's Black Individuals and Communities.”

We encourage you to learn about Black American history and explore the impacts of racism on health. Click here to explore related resources from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.