Black History Month:Health, Wellness, and Joy 2022

Heritage months are designed to create intentional spaces to reflect on our society’s practices, history, and values. Since 1976, every U.S. president has designated February as Black History Month and endorsed a specific theme.

In 2022, the Black History Month theme is Black Health and Wellness. This theme explores the legacy of Black scholars and medical practitioners in Western medicine and other ways of knowing (e.g., birth workers, doulas, midwives, naturopaths, herbalists, etc.) throughout the African Diaspora. The 2022 theme considers activities, rituals, and initiatives accomplished by Black communities to foster health and wellness.

As an institution specifically designed for graduate learners, Fielding can be a part of examining this theme through program-driven activities throughout the month. In addition, we would like to offer the following resources for your reflection:

Association for the Study of African American Life and History

National Museum of African American History and Culture

The Association of Black Psychologists

National Endowment for the Humanities

Black Joy is at the center of Black identity

“At the core or center of Black culture, Black identity, Black art, Black ideology, and Black community is joy,” said Anita Dashiell-Sparks, a professor of theater practice and Associate Dean of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at the USC School of Dramatic Arts. “Black joy is the heartbeat and pulse of our survival, our resiliency, our perseverance, our health and wellbeing.

“Joy has been our weapon and superpower in the face of injustice and structural racism.”

Black History Month 2022 theme: health, wellness and a good dose of joy (usc.edu)

2022 Black History Month – Black Health and Wellness - Fielding Graduate University