Health, History and Black History Month: Experts from the University of Houston

As you pursue stories related to Black History Month, please consider these ideas from the University of Houston.

Wednesdays in Mississippi - Proper Ladies Working for Change: Historian Debbie Harwell’s book explores the lives and activities of seven interfaith, interracial teams of Mississippi women during the civil rights movement of 1964. By presenting themselves as “proper ladies,” they effectively built bridges of understanding across, race, region and religion, demonstrating women’s power to advance social action by taking a quiet approach to radical change. Reach Harwell at dzharwel@Central.UH.EDU or 713-743-3123.

Race and Diabetes: History Professor Richard Mizelle, who studies the history of race and medicine, is pursuing new research on the history of race and diabetes.  He examines the disease and attitudes about those diagnosed with diabetes.  Mizelle also is the author of “Backwater Blues: The 1927 Mississippi River Flood in the African American Imagination” and “Resilience and Opportunities: Lessons from the U.S. Gulf Coast after Katrina and Rita.”

You Eat What You Are: Food provides identity, reflects culture and shared values. The Gulf Coast Food Project focuses on food as scholarship, and is in the middle of a year-long exploration of African and African American foodways, “Food and the African Diaspora” and is funded, in part, by a National Endowment for the Humanities grant to facilitate the development of food studies at UH. The Gulf Coast Food Project is co-directed by professors Todd Romero, Monica Perales and Temple Northup.

Events:

A complete list of Black History Month events can be accessed here. Some highlights are as follows:

The African American Experience in Our National Parks: Dr. Joy G. Kinard, Superintendent of the Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument, will discuss historic connections African Americans have played in the creation of the National Park Service at Yosemite National Park and Sequoia Kings Canyon, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 4, Agnes Arnold Hall, room 210.

Race & Sport: Panel discussion featuring national sports scholars and former athletes, hosted by Professor Drew Brown, African American Studies’ Visiting Professor, noon to 1 p.m., Friday, Feb. 5 in the UH Student Center.