Black History Month: Moving from Acknowledgement to Participation

By Laura Kincheloe, Ed.D., MSN, RN, NE-BC

 

Black History Month serves as an opportunity to honor and celebrate the lives, experiences, and cultures of Black Americans. Many organizations such as hospitals and schools of nursing often host a variety of educational or entertainment events in their community. Some organizations work for months to ensure they are promoting an event for every day of the month to highlight the many accomplishments of others.

Laws impacting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)

During the 88^th legislative session, SB 17 was passed, which prohibits DEI offices in the state’s public institutions of higher education. Since then, there seem to be fewer institutions of higher education publicly promoting Black History Month celebrations. In conversations with nurses from around the state, some leaders have expressed a fear around remaining compliant with the regulation. With DEI impacted, students rely on their student services or campus life departments to close the gap.

While there are still many organizations participating, we extend continued concern around ensuring nursing students can provide care to diverse populations, including equitable and inclusive care. Given that the ANA Code of Ethics requires nurses to care for patients regardless of race, gender, culture, or other biases, we have a duty to ensure DEI is included in nursing education.

One TNA member provided a full calendar of activities they have scheduled in their institution of higher education to ensure ample opportunity to learn and experience the month. While these examples of events are specific to the month of February for one organization, this does not mean they should not be done or promoted outside of February.

Here are a few suggestions to incorporate activities near you:

• Red Cross Blood Drive with a Sickle Cell Anemia Association booth

• Host a film screening of documentaries or movies that highlight important moments in black history.

• Conduct a book club where participants read and discuss literature written by African American authors, including discussion of publishing setbacks, updated cultural information in texts etc.

• Invite a guest speaker, such as a historian or community leader, to give a presentation on a specific aspect of black history, particularly in the nursing profession.

• Organize a cultural fair  where attendees can learn about African American traditions, music, dance, and cuisine.

• Create a display or exhibit showcasing notable figures and events in Black (nursing) history.

• Hold a poetry slam or open mic night featuring works by African American poets and spoken word artists. 

• Arrange a field trip to a local museum or historical site that focuses on African American history.

• Host a workshop or seminar on the civil rights movement and its impact on society. 

• Organize a community service project that addresses a social issue affecting the African American community.

• Collaborate with nursing schools to implement educational programs about black history.

• Conduct a research project or essay contest where participants explore lesser-known aspects of black history.

• Organize a concert or musical performance  featuring African American musicians and artists .

• Create a podcast or video series that highlights influential African Americans and their achievements.

• Host a trivia night with questions focused on black history, encouraging participants to learn and engage in friendly competition.

• Organize a panel discussion on the importance of representation and diversity in media, popular culture, education, nursing, etc.

• Hold a storytelling event where community members and/or veterans share their personal experiences and stories related to black history.

• Collaborate with local businesses  to create a black history-themed art or photography exhibition.

• Host a community forum to discuss current issues and challenges faced by the African American community.

• Organize a film festival showcasing movies directed by African American filmmakers .

• Conduct workshops on African American hair and beauty traditions, promoting self-acceptance and cultural pride.

• Create a mural or public art installation that celebrates African American history and culture.

• Organize a walking tour of significant locations related to African American history in your community. 

• Collaborate with local libraries to create displays and book recommendations  for Black History Month.

• Host a career fair that highlights professional opportunities and success stories within the African American community. 

• Organize a cooking  class or food tasting event featuring dishes from African American cuisine.

• Create a social media campaign to raise awareness about black history and encourage dialogue and learning.

• Collaborate with local schools to organize a student essay or art contest with black history as the theme.

• Host a panel discussion or workshop on the intersectionality of black history and other social justice movements.

Whether you organize or attend an event or host a calendar full of activities this month, you can find ways to participate in learning more about Black History. We would love to hear from you about what you are doing in your own communities and organizations for Black History month so be sure to comment below.

Read past articles here.