Ep 14: Booker T. Washington and the Roots of Black Public Health | From National Negro Health Week to National Minority Health Month

In this episode of Life More Abundantly, Drs. Eboni Haynes and Tynisha Camae Drennon honor Booker T. Washington and Jackie Robinson in This Week in Black History, explore the roots of National Public Health Week and National Minority Health Month, and close with a candid herbal tea conversation about celebrity accountability. What We Covered:We highlight two major milestones:April 7, 1940: Booker T. Washingtonbecame the first Black person depicted on a U.S. postage stamp.April 10, 1947: Jackie Robinson becamethe first Black player in modern Major League Baseball.We also reflect on Booker T. Washington’s role in launching National Health Improvement Week in 1915, which evolved into National Negro Health Week, later informed NationalPublic Health Week, and helped lay the groundwork for today’s National Minority Health Month.National Public Health Week and National Minority Health MonthWe discuss why public health matters in everyday life, from legislation and environmental health to prevention and trusted information. We also trace the history of Black-led health advocacy and the role of the American Public HealthAssociation (APHA) in promoting National Public Health Week each year.The Herbal Tea SegmentWe close with a conversation on Chilli and Nick Cannon and celebrity accountability, public platforms, and the double standard of “cancel culture” often applied to Black women in public life. Plus, Brandy “circles the block.”Key Takeaways  Black communities have a long history of leadingpublic health movements. Public health is about more than health care. Itincludes policy, prevention, environment, and access.Health equity requires both information andaction.Links to Resources Referenced in this Episode: National Public Health Week, American PublicHealth Association: https://www.apha.org/events-and-meetings/national-public-health-weekThink Public Health: https://thinkpublichealth.com/online-store/Support the Show!If this episode helped you, share it with someone you love and make sure you subscribe so you do not miss an episode.And remember: “When we invest in health, we invest in the future of our people.” (Booker T. Washington)National Public Health Week andNational Minority Health MonthTheherbal tea segmentKey takeawaysLinks and resourcesreferenced in this episodeSupport the show