A Walk Through African American Women’s Health History
“We (health care workers) have a responsibility to close the gap with knowledge. I want the audience to walk away with a call to action.”-Kira Anderson
On Tuesday, February 28, the final day of Black History Month, Baptist Health Sciences University faculty, staff, and students hosted, “Health Equity: Women’s Health,” an event examining the health of African American women.
The event took a historical and current look at African American women’s health. The root causes of health inequities and outcomes among African American women were presented. The participants identified methods that instructors, teachers, and health care providers could use to increase equity in women's health.
Reproductive health and contraception, maternal health, infant mortality, sexually transmitted infections, and women's health were among the topics that were covered. These topics were presented through historical and contemporary events that have an impact on women's health. Each subject had a student presenter(s) and faculty coaches who provided background information on each relevant historical event.
“The goal was to walk through history looking at pivotal events, noting the fact that nothing that happened was happenstance.” Professor Kira Anderson states, “This event was about linking history to the current, celebrating Black women’s contributions, as well at the same time acknowledging the adversities that were faced as well.”
Students received 10 faith and service points for attending the event. All participants were also encouraged to bring donations of unopened menstrual supplies for Sister Supply. Sister Supply is a non-profit organization in Memphis that provides menstrual products to schools, shelters, and organizations in the city.
The event opened with Dr. Roderick Johnson singing Sam Cooke’s song, “A Change is Gonna Come,” followed by Professor Kira Anderson thanking faculty, staff, and student participants for their contributions. Students and faculty coaches then began their presentations. The student coach provided a brief synopsis of the presentation followed by the student presenters providing historical facts and information about historical figures related to each topic. Historical figures and studies that were discussed included: Dr. J. Marion Sims, Margaret Sanger, Henrietta Lacks, Dr. May Edward Chinn, and the Tuskegee Syphilis Study. Presenters also offered current statistics regarding African American women’s health outcomes including those related to infant mortality, sexual transmitted infections, and maternal health. Disparities in African American women’s health outcomes were compared to those of women from other racial and ethnic groups.
After a brief intermission, Dr. Elizabeth Williams introduced Eli Cloud, a cofounder and CEO of Sister Supply. Cloud spoke about period poverty within not only the homeless community, but also among school-aged girls. Cloud ended her remarks by thanking everyone for donating menstrual products to the organization, which will be distributed to schools, shelters, and organizations around the city of Memphis.
Soon after providing historical context and current statistics regarding African American women’s health, there was an interactive panel discussion which included health care providers and Baptist Health Sciences University faculty. The panel moderated by a student fielded audience questions about topics related to the earlier presentations. Panel members offered insights from medical, nursing, ethics, anthropological, sociological, and public health perspectives.
The event concluded with Dr. Williams leading the audience in singing the James Weldon Johnson and J. Rosamond Johnson’s hymn, “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”
Student contributors included: Desiree Armstrong (Respiratory Care), Erin Dabney (Respiratory Care), Kayla Franks (Nursing), Paige Gray (Nursing), Tayler Hammonds (Nursing), Amber Harper (Nursing), Cassie Nielson (Respiratory Care), Charmelle Trice (Nursing), and Lyric VanHooks (Nursing).
Faculty and staff contributors included: Professor Ivy Anderson (Division of Nursing), Dr. Beth Choby (proposed College of Osteopathic Medicine), Dr. Cameron Conn (proposed College of Osteopathic Medicine), Dr. Angie Crow (Division of Nursing), Professor Abby Johnston (Division of General Education and Health Sciences), Dr. Seraphine Lambert (Division of Nursing), and Dr. Michelle McDonald (Division of General Education and Health Sciences).
The planning committee for the event included: Professor Kira Anderson (Division of Allied Health), Dr. Cathy Stepter (Division of Nursing), Dr. Elizabeth Williams (Division of Allied Health), Professor Michelle Alexander (Division of General Education and Health Sciences), Dr. Cheryl Johnson-Joy (Division of Nursing), and Dr. Roderick Johnson (Financial Aid).
Lift every voice and sing. NAACP. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://naacp.org/find-resources/history-explained/lift-every-voice-and-sing