ASALH Kicks Off Black History Month with its Second Black History Month Virtual Festival

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) is proud to announce the 2022 National Black History Theme – “Black Health and Wellness.” We observe this theme in the midst of a worldwide pandemic in which racism has been labeled a “public health crisis” and 

during an ever-growing awareness about the ways in which African Americans have been disproportionately affected by health concerns.

The theme will be unveiled officially on February 1st by our new 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, Texas.

This year’s Black History Month Virtual Festival includes the marquee event, Black Bodies: From Exploitation to Excellence, a two part-series exploring the historic exploitation of African Americans for the advancement of scientific and medical discovery. Both sessions will illuminate how these challenges and practices were used to leverage change in the medical profession, and foster resilience and excellence in our communities.

Black Bodies Part I: Exploitation in Medicine, takes place on February 12, 2022, from 12:00 – 2:00 P.M. EST, and will include panelists who will speak on race, gender and the origins of American gynecology, Henrietta Lacks HeLa cells and the Lyles Station radiation experiments. It features panelists: Dr. Deirdre Cooper Owens, author of Medical Bondage; Wilbert Smith, Author and Film Producer; Dr. Roland Pattillo, Vice President of the Henrietta Lacks Foundation; Dr. Clyde Yancy, also with the Henrietta Lacks Foundation; and Ms. Lisa Villarosa as Moderator. Black Bodies Part II: Race Norming in the National Football League (NFL), will feature a round table discussion among former NFL players and sports medicine professionals including, Robert Moore, former Atlanta Falcon; Tim Watson, former Green Bay Packer; Roger Jackson and Rubin Carter both former Denver Broncos. Ryan Heathcock, former Howard University Bison football player, will moderate this critical discussion on issues of race norming, injury, mental health, and other relevant topics affecting the health and well-being of Black athletes on February 27, 2022, 5:00 - 6:30 PM EST. Registration ranges between $65 to $150 and is available through asalh.org/festival.

Be sure to participate in our other fascinating events that analyze and illuminate the theme and importance of Black Health and Wellness in the African American experience including a forum on the “Psychological Legacy of Slavery,” in partnership with the National Park Service; several stimulating book talks co-sponsored with PBS Books featuring Harriet A. Washington and Dr. Sandro Galea; our Second Annual ASALH Book Prize Award; and special programming from the ASALH Manhattan Branch. The Black History Month Virtual Festival is our major Black History Month event of the year, and we would be honored to have you.