OUR HISTORY
FIRST MASSIVE AFRICAN AMERICAN PROTEST IN U.S. HISTORY WAS LED BY CHILDREN MARCHING AGAINST LYNCHING IN THE SILENT PROTEST PARADE
African Americans in Medicine in the Civil War Era
Most Americans are now familiar with the contribution of nearly 300,000 black soldiers and sailors to the Union cause during the U.S. Civil War. Less well known is the role of a dedicated group of black doctors and nurses in uniform who worked diligently to save lives and fight disease. In 2006, retired physician Robert G. Slawson who is now with the National Museum of Civil War Medicine in Frederick, Maryland, wrote Prologue to Change: African Americans in Medicine in the Civil War Era to introduce those men and women to the public. What follows is an introduction to these medical professionals based on his research.
The involvement of African Americans in medicine in the Civil War era is an untold chapter in our history. Up to that time most practitioners had learned medicine by apprenticeship but this began to change in the early Nineteenth Century. James McCune Smith was the first African American to obtain a medical degree when, in 1837, he was graduated from the University of Glasgow in Scotland. In 1847 David James Peck was the first to receive a medical degree in the United States. By the end of the Civil War at least 22 African Americans had obtained degrees and were practicing medicine. At least twelve of these physicians served with the Union Army.
– See more at: http://www.blackpast.org/perspectives/african-americans-medicine-civil-war-era#sthash.fT0aJHx6.dpuf
On May 12, 1955, Sam “toothpick” Jones became the first African American to pitch a “no hitter” in major league baseball. Satchel Paige and many others would have already completed the task had baseball been integrated earlier. Jones was known for his wicked curveball. #baseball #baseballgame #sports #sportshistory #majorleague #themajors
