The theme for Black History Month 2022 is Black Health and Wellness, and while this month acknowledges the past and celebrates historic Black achievement, it is also vital that we commit to a better future. Knowing how to engage with and support these efforts can be overwhelming. To help, the Association for the Study of African American Life and History has compiled a list of books, historical materials, and guides on Black health and wellness that we can learn and act from.
By Harriet A. Washington
This book details the ways in which both enslaved people and free men were used in hospitals for experiments conducted without their knowledge.
Undivided Rights: Women of Color Organizing for Reproductive Justice
By Jael Silliman, Marlene Gerber Fried, Loretta Ross, and Elena Gutiérrez
This text examines the little-known history of women of color activists organizing for reproductive justice.
Black Women's Mental Health: Balancing Strength and Vulnerability
Edited by Stephanie Y. Evans, Kanika Bell, and Nsenga K. Burton
A book that provides an inside look at the challenges and prevalence of Black women's struggle for inner peace and mental health.
Caring for Equality: A History of African American Health and Healthcare
By David McBride
This work chronicles efforts to improve poor health conditions for Black people, as well as insufficient medical care—mostly caused by slavery, racism, and discrimination—throughout history.
Reclaiming Our Health: A Guide to African American Wellness
By Michelle A. Gourdine
Get key insights and a look into the way African American culture affects health choices, including an overview of how beliefs, traditions, and values can have an impact on everything from eating choices to exercise habits, and even decisions on whether to seek medical attention.
Farming While Black: Soul Fire Farm's Practical Guide to Liberation on the Land
By Leah Penniman
A wide-ranging "how-to" guide for African-heritage growers on reclaiming their dignity as agriculturists and understanding the unique, technical contributions of African-heritage farmers to sustainable agriculture over the years.
Care for The Mental And Spiritual Health of Black Men: Hope to Keep Going
By Nicholas Grier
A close examination of this sensitive topic, along with reflections on race, gender, sexuality, and class to offer a hopeful and constructive framework for care and counseling, particularly for Black men.
Black Faces, White Spaces: Reimagining the Relationship of African Americans to the Great Outdoors
By Carolyn Finney
A look at how both Black and white Americans have comprehended, commodified, and represented the natural world over time.