Black Health and Wellness is the theme highlighted for Black History Month 2022 by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History.
As the ASALH website explains, “This theme acknowledges 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.” They share resources in a variety of formats:
- Books on Black Health & Wellness (ASALH)
- Websites on Black Health & Wellness (ASALH)
- Videos & Podcasts on Black Health & Wellness (ASALH)
- Historical Materials & Guides on Black Health & Wellness (ASALH)
It’s critical for us to focus on these and related topics throughout the year. In the legal profession, we know that lawyers of color, especially women lawyers of color, have to work harder to receive deserved recognition. We know that every day our systems cause trauma and Black and other lawyers of color experience aggressions on many levels. We know that Black and other lawyers of color often personally experience the weight of the access to justice gap as the only access point to legal services their families and communities may have. Gallup recently discussed the need to align professional well-being and DEI strategies, noting the following inequities in professional settings.
- Your employees have different access to health and wellbeing resources.
- Your employees have different experiences with healthcare systems.
- Your employees have different daily experiences that affect their health and wellbeing.
Upcoming Events:
FEB. 28 at 10:30am! Massachusetts Attorney General’s Convening on Black Health and Wellness (Free Mass AGO Event)
FEB. 28 at 7:30pm! Reflections Of The Journey: Conversations With Two Freedom Riders (Free NBA Women Lawyers Division Event)
Save the Date! MARCH 9 at 2pm! Building Resilience from Trauma in the Legal Profession (Free LCL MA Event)
RELATED READING:
Biden Introduces Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson as Supreme Court Nominee (MSN, February 2022)
ABA Celebrating Black History Month 2022
BIPOC Mental Health Month 2021: Reflections in the Legal Profession (LCL MA, 2021)
Trauma Takes Many Forms, Including Racism: Notes for the Legal Profession (LCL MA, 2020)
Black History Month: Pressures of Trailblazing (LCL MA, 2019)
Free & Confidential Consultations:
Lawyers, law students, and judges in Massachusetts can discuss concerns with a licensed therapist, law practice advisor, or both. Find more on scheduling here.
