Remembering the Past and Focusing on the Future With Black History Month
Each February, people in the United States and Canada acknowledge the struggles and celebrate the achievements and history of Black Americans as part of Black History Month, which was created to focus attention on the rich legacy of the black experience in both countries. Black leaders have shaped our country with courage and determination and defined pivotal events in our history as well as striving towards a more socially just future. And while we as a nation have made many positive steps forward, there is still so much work to be done. And that starts with learning.
Learn
The theme for Black History Month 2022 is Black Health and Wellness, timely as we strive to combat a global pandemic and adapt to new ways of living and working. The Association for the Study of African American Life and History has published a comprehensive reading list of materials that examine the legacy of not only Black scholars and medical practitioners in Western medicine, but also other ways of knowing throughout the African Diaspora. The 2022 theme considers activities, rituals, and initiatives that Black communities have done to be well” Becoming educated on health inequality is a critical step to improving health outcomes for marginalized communities.
Do
Consider donating to or volunteering with The Black Women’s Health Imperative, the first national non-profit organization created by Black women to help protect and advance the health of Black women and girls. Their signature programs focus on health education in low-income communities, prevention of diseases that disproportionately affect black women, and training advocates to help improve health outcomes in black communities.
Share
It’s important to amplify black voices in your organization as well as those in your industry. Here at LexisNexis, we’re proud to share stories about the actions those across our organization are taking toward creating a more just and equitable future. We’ve created a page that brings together videos, podcasts, and opinions that shed light on the black employee experience across RELX, our parent company #RELXDiversity #LNDiversity.
Lastly, at LexisNexis, we believe in the power of data and analytics to uncover opportunities and drive innovation. Ideas are powerful. And our daily lives have been made better, more innovative, and efficient through countless inventions and products that originated in the minds of black inventors. Learn more here about the impact of these inventions on our daily lives.