According to the American Medical Association, the rate of suicide among Black youth has doubled in the last 20 years….It is the 3rd leading cause of death for Black Americans ages
15 to 24.
The National Organization For People Of Color Against Suicide “notes that depression, which often goes undiagnosed, is on the increase among African Americans.”
Some SuicideWarning Signs:
-Talking about wanting to die.
-Exploring methods -Expressing hopelessness; no reason to live
-Talking about being a burden to others
-Increasing use of alcohol or drugs
-Withdrawing or isolating
Check out this article from Yes! Magazine for more info:
Jesse Sleet Scales (1865-1956) was a native of Canada. She was born in Stratford, Ontario. Scales graduated from Provident Hospital School of Nursing in Chicago in 1895. Upon graduation, she moved to New York hoping to work in the field of public health. She was denied employment because of her race even though there was a shortage of professionally trained nurses. Scales finally found nursing employment in 1900 with the Charity Organization Society. Continue reading “Jesse Sleet Scales: 1st African American Public Health Nurse”→
Dr. Clive Callender (1936-) is an accomplished medical doctor, educator and pioneer in the field of organ transplantation. He was born in New York, NY. Callender was placed in foster care as a child and also lived with his father until his stepmother had to be hospitalized. At that time, Callender moved in with his aunt, “Ella”. He became very involved with his Aunt’s church, Ebenezer Gospel Tabernacle. As a result, he wanted to become a medical missionary. After completing high school, Callender received his B.S. degree in Chemistry and Physiology from Hunter College. He then attended Meharry Medical College in Nashville, TN where he received his M.D. degree in 1963. He completed residency programs at Harlem Hospital, Freedmen’s Hospital, and Memorial Hospital For Cancer and Allied Disease. Following his residency completion, he returned to Howard University Hospital and became chief resident. In 1969, he became an instructor at Howard University. In 1970, he served as a medical officer at D.C. General Hospital. Continue reading “Dr. Clive Callender: Founder Of The National Minority Organ Tissue Transplant Education Program (MOTTEP)”→
It’s been more than 3.5 years and Flint is still reeling from the impact of its PREVENTABLE water crisis. Research recently made available by David Sluslky (University of Kansas) and Daniel Grossman (West Virginia University) details the devastating impact the water crisis is having on Flint’s children. The research has identified a 58% increase in fetal deaths along with a 12% decrease in fertility rates.
An urban community with approximately 99,000 residents, Flint’s population is approximately 53% black, 38% white, and 6% other ethnic groups. 42% of Flint’s residents have incomes below the poverty line.
15 state employees have been indicted and may face criminal prosecution related to their involvement with the Flint water crisis.
Congress Maxine Waters is given us all LIFE! In response to remarks made by Bill O’Reilly about her hair…..Waters comeback was EPIC! Check out the video and be inspired. One of the quotes we love from her comments was: “I am a strong BLACK WOMAN. I CANNOT be intimidated and I’m not going ANYWHERE!” A more complete clip is also available from MSNBC,
Dr. Francis Sumner was the first African American to receive a Ph.D. in Psychology. Sumner was born in 1895 in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. After elementary school, Sumner was home-schooled by his parents. He was able to pass the entrance exam for Lincoln University even without having attended high school. He began his studies at age 15 and graduated magna cum laude with honors in 1915. Sumner then attended Clark University obtaining a bachelor of arts in English in 1916. He returned to Clark University to complete his Ph.D. in psychology but was unable to start his doctoral studies due to being drafted into the army during World War I. He re-enrolled after completing military service and graduated with his Ph.D in 1920 at Clark University. Sumner became a professor and also began to publish research.
His first teaching position was at Wilberforce University in Ohio. He would later teach at other universities as well. In publishing his research, he encountered many barriers. Many research agencies refused to fund his research because he was black. In publishing articles, Sumner was outspoken in criticism of colleges and universities and their treatment of African American students. He would later go on to become one of the founders of the psychology department at Howard University. He chaired the department from 1928 until his death in 1954
Throughout his career, Sumner investigated ways to refute racism and bias prevalent in many psychological theories that suggested the inferiority of African Americans.
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Reference
Thomas, R. (2006). “Sumner, Francis Cecil.” African American National Biography, edited by Henry Louis Gates Jr, edited by Evelyn Brooks Higginbotham. Oxford African American Studies Center.
Dr. Leonidas Harris Berry (1902-1995) was an African American trailblazer in gastroscopy and endoscopy. Berry served as the president of the National Medical Association (NMA). NMA was medical association for African American physicians. Berry invented the Eder-Berry biopsy gastroscope in 1955. This invention improved the way doctors collect tissue from the stomach without surgery. He also determined that it is not the stomach that was damaged by alcoholism, but rather the liver. This discovery would change the diagnosis and treatment of the disease forever. Continue reading “Dr. Leonidas Harris Berry: Ground Breaking Medical Doctor Who Would Forever Change The Diagnosis and Treatment of Alcoholism”→
Dr. Harold Freeman (1933 – ) is a national expert when it comes to poverty and cancer. Born in Washington DC, Freeman attended Catholic University and then went to medical school at Howard University. Freeman began his medical career at Harlem Hospital in 1967. He was alarmed to discover that many of his patients suffered with advanced stages of cancer. Freeman made it his mission to determine why his primarily African American patients experienced such a high mortality rate. His goal was to reduce the health disparities for cancer patients that were associated with race and income. Continue reading “Dr. Harold Freeman: Fighting Cancer Related Healthcare Disparities”→
In 1980, Dr. Levi Watkins, Jr. (1944-2015) performed the first implantation of an automatic defibrillator in a human heart. Watkins was also a professor of cardiac surgery and an associate dean at John Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore Maryland. Dr. Watkins was born in Parson, Kansas. He grew up in Montgomery, AL and became good friends with civil rights leader, Dr. Ralph Abernathy. He also met Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who, at the time had just started preaching at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church. Watkins was inspired by Dr. King and also became involved in the civil rights movement, serving as a volunteer driver transporting church members who were participating in the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1956. Continue reading “Dr. Levi Watkins, Jr.: Performed The 1st Implantation of An Automatic Heart Defibrillator”→
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