On Faith and HBCU's and Minority Health Awareness......
If you’re a graduate of an HBCU, you are familiar with the legacy of their founding. For the duration of slavery, reading and writing were punishable by law. In the years following the Civil War and the freeing of the enslaved, there was a great interest by some to provide education for the newly freed former slaves. With freedom came the desire and need to provide the means to empower this people. And, the answer came for many with the founding of schools of learning begun in the church and/or supported by the church.
"Within a year of Abraham Lincoln’s signing the Emancipation Proclamation, black leaders in Maryland’s Methodist Episcopal Church had already set their sights on both spiritually uplifting and educating their communities. “Pastors began to meet to discuss how the church could be the catalyst for establishing a university,” (Christianity Today)
The deep connection between faith and education is found at the heart of many HBCUs, says Marybeth Gasman, the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Endowed Chair in Education at Rutgers University and founder of the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for Minority Serving Institutions. “They started in church basements, they started in old schoolhouses, they started in people’s homes,” she says. “[Former slaves] were hungry for learning . . . because of course, education had been kept from them.” Because many black schools were founded on the idea of nurturing the soul as well as the intellect, they have fostered a sense of respect and community.” (Christianity Today)
This legacy is seen throughout the more than 100 HBCU schools in existence, including Historically Black Medical Schools, as a number of Christian denominations and people of faith began to work intentionally to educate Black people.
I am an alum of one of those HBCU’S, Oakwood University, founded in 1896. This school year we celebrate 125 years.. My parents, husband, son, in-laws and a host of nieces and nephews all attended. We received an excellent education and wouldn’t trade our experience or education for anything at all. My husband graduated from Tuskegee’s Physical Therapy Program and sang with the Tuskegee Golden Voices. My son sang with the Oakwood Aeolians, voted The Choir of the World in 2018. We produce top candidates for medical school and Healthy Living is an integral part of our Christ Centered Curriculum. As HBCU graduates, we look forward to “Homecomings” where we gather and reminisce and fill our emotional/spiritual tanks to head back out into a world that still questions our abilities…..yea, even our existence.
As I prepare for my first Alumni Homecoming since COVID, with in-person and virtual attendance, a friend and I lamented over how so many of our friends are sick and dying of preventable diseases. And, that conversation got me to thinking.
Based on our history, we as a people have stood firmly in a belief in the Creator God and will often talk about how good He has been to us as we quote aloud “Won’t He Do It!” or “God is Good all the time and all the time God is Good!”. We believe that we are fearfully and wonderfully made, that we should glorify Him in our bodies and spirits and that He is the Great Physician. If that’s true, what has happened to our health? Why do we see such disparity in health conditions among our people? Why don’t we experience the good health that is God’s greatest wish for us? We have the Bible. We have been educated at HBCU’s. We’ve continued our education in fields of specialty that include medicine, allied health and other fields of service. What is the problem?
As we are challenged during April, which is Minority Health Awareness Month, to boost our community, I wonder if the answer to our healing is in more closely following the Creator’s guide for our lives……..which Science is now confirming.
What if a plant powered diet like the one in the beginning, is superior to any other diet known and practiced by man?
What if a merry heart really does good like a medicine, while a broken spirit drieth the bones?
What if wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging and whosoever is deceived is not wise?
What if the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations?
What if taking many medicines is in vain, for they will not cure?
What if, the prayer of faith shall save the sick?
What if being outside in the sunlight and fresh air literally can build immunity and help us fight disease?
What if our sleep is supposed to be sweet unto us?
What if He inhabits the praise of His people?
What if doing those things, keeps us from disparity…..keeps us healthy……keeps us whole?
What if it is He, the Lord who heals you?
What if the key to healing our community lies not primarily at the clinic, but in our faith, in our obedience to what the Creator has said we should do? What if all of our education was to help us interpret the Word in a way that would improve our lives? What would happen if we decided to make healthier choices ourselves and teach others by precept and example how to do the same? What if our education allows us to de-colonize long held beliefs and see clearly what God wants for us? What if HBCU grads are the answer to the problems that plague our community? No Cap?
I don’t know about you, but I’m one who has stood over the caskets of loved ones who didn’t have to die. I’m convinced that the change in the health choices of Black people around this country is KEY to changing the health outcomes and disparities. So, as I celebrate my HBCU homecoming this year, I’m offering hope…..cause I want to make a difference for my people!!
On April 15, 2022, I’m hosting a conversation with some of my friends about how Lifestyle Medicine is The Science of Making Man Whole!! I’ll be talking to Columbus Batiste, MD, Eric Walsh, MD, DrPH, Eddie Goodman, PT, Faith Felder, MD, Ruby Lathon, PhD about why Lifestyle Medicine works, how it’s healing the people they serve and how you can embrace it personally and professionally. How YOU can be a part of this 2nd line of HBCU educated educators who brings hope and healing to our people……again.
You can click here to register. I’m telling you, it’s gonna be something that is life changing. It’s time to get off the plantation yawl…..we’ve been free for a while…….now it’s time to get delivered!!!!!
Oh, and don’t be talking bout it can’t be done. I just finished a Bible Study on Unrealistic Faith….which cannot exist in Reality……so there’s that!!
Let’s Go!! Heal our People!! HBCU Strong!! Happy Wellness Wednesday!!!!
I’m Still Shoutin Ova Here!!
Donna
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