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New Reginald F. Lewis Museum exhibit honors Black health professionals, examines disparities in medical field for Black people

By Karyn Cook, Special to the AFRO In Maryland, where 31.4 percent of the population is Black, only 12.3 percent of physicians identify as Black, according to data from the Association of American Medical Colleges. The Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture in Baltimore recently debuted a new exhibit, “Blacks […]
The post New Reginald F. Lewis Museum exhibit honors Black health professionals, examines disparities in medical field for Black people first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Published

2 years ago

October 13, 2023

AFRO Staff

By Karyn Cook,
Special to the AFRO

In Maryland, where 31.4 percent of the population is Black, only 12.3 percent of physicians identify as Black, according to data from the Association of American Medical Colleges.

The Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture in Baltimore recently debuted a new exhibit, “Blacks in White: African American Health Professionals,” to bring attention to the efforts of Black health professionals. According to the museum’s website, the exhibit includes four primary themes that help frame the contributions of African American health professionals in the region.

Museum attendees will have an opportunity to explore “a timeline outlining African American access to health, the role of key institutions in supporting public health education for African Americans, exploring the pivotal role of Provident Hospital and highlighting the contributions of African American community health giants,” according to exhibit information released by the museum.

Izetta Autumn Mobley, chief curator and director of interpretation, collections, and education, created the exhibit to bring attention to the accomplishments of Black health professionals and their many contributions to the health field.

“Through ‘Blacks in White,’ we wanted not only to highlight the rich history of Maryland, the District of Columbia and Virginia as a critical geographic site for the training of African American and Black American medical and health professionals, but we also wanted to make available the lives of Black health professionals who have committed themselves to the well-being of their communities,” said Mobley.

The exhibit brings attention to women such as the late Maryland State Sen. Verda Mae Freeman Welcome and Henrietta Lacks, who’s immortal cells were discovered in 1951 at Johns Hopkins Hospital.

Welcome raised $4.5 million for Baltimore’s Provident Hospital, which ensured that Black communities had access to quality healthcare, and Lacks’ immortal cells are still being used in medical research and treatment to this day.

“One of the things that was very important while developing this exhibition was to expand the frame beyond histories of Black exploitation in the medical field,” she said, referring to the exploitation of Lacks’ remarkable cells that could reproduce indefinitely– instead of dying once extracted from the body. The cells were used without Lacks’ consent.

Dr. Brian Williams, a trauma surgeon and graduate of Harvard Medical School, details his experiences as a Black doctor in “The Bodies Keep Coming: Dispatches from a Black Trauma Surgeon on Racism, Violence, and How We Heal.” Released Sept. 26, Williams details his experience as a Black man in healthcare, while also dealing with White supremacy and the emotional trauma of being on the frontline of violence.

“I’ve experienced the highs and lows, that comes with being Black, not just being a Black doctor, being Black in America, you deal with a lot of overt and covert racism.”

“As a Black doctor, I’ve been called racial slurs, I’ve had patients not want to be treated by me, I’ve been mistaken for cleaning staff, some of these instances are intentional, some are not.”

Williams is looking forward to the awareness the exhibit will bring. “It’s extremely important, it’s a means of preserving and sharing the history of all that Black people have contributed to this profession.”

Ciara Jackson is a student in the physician assistant program and a student in the inaugural class at Meharry Medical College Physician Assistant Sciences Program in Nashville, Tenn. She is also a graduate of Xavier University in New Orleans, Jackson has always been passionate about a career in the medical field. “I have always been interested in medicine and the health sciences.” “Once I discovered the PA profession and the amazing contributions they add to the healthcare team, I knew this was the career path for me.”

She plans on helping others after her graduation from the HBCU medical school.

“There is definitely a lack of Black health care professionals and I look forward to addressing this disparity as PA. I plan to work in communities with a focus on the underrepresented and underserved.”

She is happy the exhibit showcases Black people in the medical field.

“Blacks in this country have continuously paved the way and made history, especially in the medical field” she said. “I am certain that this exhibit will shine a positive light and share many untold and noteworthy stories of our history in healthcare and medicine.”

The exhibit will run from Sept. 28 to Jan. 4, 2024.

The post New Reginald F. Lewis Museum exhibit honors Black health professionals, examines disparities in medical field for Black people appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers .

This article originally appeared in The Afro.

The post New Reginald F. Lewis Museum exhibit honors Black health professionals, examines disparities in medical field for Black people first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

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Black Feminist Movement Mobilizes in Response to National Threats

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — More than 500 Black feminists will convene in New Orleans from June 5 through 7 for what organizers are calling the largest Black feminist gathering in the United States.

Published

13 hours ago

May 30, 2025

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

More than 500 Black feminists will convene in New Orleans from June 5 through 7 for what organizers are calling the largest Black feminist gathering in the United States. The event, led by the organization Black Feminist Future, is headlined by activist and scholar Angela Y. Davis. Paris Hatcher, executive director of Black Feminist Future, joined Black Press USA’s Let It Be Known to outline the mission and urgency behind the gathering, titled “Get Free.” “This is not just a conference to dress up and have a good time,” Hatcher said. “We’re building power to address the conditions that are putting our lives at risk—whether that’s policing, reproductive injustice, or economic inequality.” Hatcher pointed to issues such as rising evictions among Black families, the rollback of bodily autonomy laws, and the high cost of living as key drivers of the event’s agenda. “Our communities are facing premature death,” she said.

Workshops and plenaries will focus on direct action, policy advocacy, and practical organizing skills. Attendees will participate in training sessions that include how to resist evictions, organize around immigration enforcement, and disrupt systemic policies contributing to poverty and incarceration. “This is about fighting back,” Hatcher said. “We’re not conceding anything.” Hatcher addressed the persistent misconceptions about Black feminism, including the idea that it is a movement against men or families. “Black feminism is not a rejection of men,” she said. “It’s a rejection of patriarchy. Black men must be part of this struggle because patriarchy harms them too.” She also responded to claims that organizing around Black women’s issues weakens broader coalitions. “We don’t live single-issue lives,” Hatcher said. “Our blueprint is one that lifts all Black people.”

The conference will not be streamed virtually, but recaps and updates will be posted daily on Black Feminist Future’s YouTube channel and Instagram account. The event includes performances by Tank and the Bangas and honors longtime activists including Billy Avery, Erica Huggins, and Alexis Pauline Gumbs. When asked how Black feminism helps families, Hatcher said the real threat to family stability is systemic oppression. “If we want to talk about strong Black families, we have to talk about mass incarceration, the income gap, and the systems that tear our families apart,” Hatcher said. “Black feminism gives us the tools to build and sustain healthy families—not just survive but thrive.”

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Hoover’s Commutation Divides Chicago as State Sentence Remains

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — Hoover was convicted of murder and running a criminal enterprise. Although some supporters describe him as a political prisoner, the legal and public safety concerns associated with his name remain substantial.

Published

2 days ago

May 29, 2025

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

The federal sentence for Gangster Disciples founder Larry Hoover has been commuted, but he remains incarcerated under a 200-year state sentence in Illinois. The decision by Donald Trump to reduce Hoover’s federal time has reignited longstanding debates over his legacy and whether rehabilitation or continued punishment is warranted. The commutation drew immediate public attention after music executive Jay Prince and artist Chance the Rapper publicly praised Trump’s decision. “I’m glad that Larry Hoover is home,” said Chance the Rapper. “He was a political prisoner set up by the federal government. He created Chicago Votes, mobilized our people, and was targeted for that.”

But Hoover, the founder of the Gangster Disciples, is not home—not yet. Now in federal custody at the Florence Supermax in Colorado, Hoover was convicted of murder and running a criminal enterprise. Although some supporters describe him as a political prisoner, the legal and public safety concerns associated with his name remain substantial. “There is a divide in the Black community here,” said Chicago journalist Jason Palmer during an appearance on the Let It Be Known morning program. “Some view Hoover as someone who brought structure and leadership. Others remember the violence that came with his organization.” Palmer explained that while Hoover’s gang originally formed for protection, it grew into a criminal network responsible for extensive harm in Chicago. He also noted that Hoover continued to run his organization from state prison using coded messages passed through visitors, prompting his transfer to federal custody.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who is widely considered a potential 2028 presidential contender, has not issued a statement. Palmer suggested that silence is strategic. “Releasing Hoover would create enormous political consequences,” Palmer said. “The governor’s in a difficult spot—he either resists pressure from supporters or risks national backlash if he acts.” According to Palmer, Hoover’s federal commutation does not make him a free man. “The federal sentence may be commuted, but he still has a 200-year state sentence,” he said. “And Illinois officials have already made it clear they don’t want to house him in state facilities again. They prefer he remains in federal custody, just somewhere outside of Colorado.”

Palmer also raised concerns about what Hoover’s case could signal for others. “When R. Kelly was convicted federally, state prosecutors in Illinois and Minnesota dropped their charges. If a president can commute federal sentences based on public pressure or celebrity support, others like R. Kelly or Sean Combs could be next,” Palmer said. “Meanwhile, there are thousands of incarcerated people without fame or access to public platforms who will never get that consideration.” “There are people who are not here today because of the violence connected to these organizations,” Palmer said. “That has to be part of this conversation.”

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WATCH: Five Years After George Floyd: Full Panel Discussion | Tracey’s Keepin’ It Real | Live Podcast Event

Join us as we return to the city where it happened and speak with a voice from the heart of the community – Tracey Williams-Dillard, CEO/Publisher of the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.

Published

2 days ago

May 28, 2025

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https://youtube.com/watch?v=OsNLWTz6jU0&feature=oembed

May 25, 2020. The world stopped and watched as a life was taken.

But what has happened since?

Join us as we return to the city where it happened and speak with a voice from the heart of the community – Tracey Williams-Dillard, CEO/Publisher of the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.

She shares reflections, insights, and the story of a community forever changed. What has a year truly meant, and where do we go from here?

This is more than just a date; it’s a moment in history. See what one leader in the Black press has to say about it.

Recorded live at UROC in Minneapolis, this powerful discussion features:

Panelists: