Black History Profile: The First Licensed African American Nurse
As Black History Month comes to an end this week, we’d like to share this profile on the first black licensed nurse in the U.S. that originally appeared in the February 3 edition of HMTW’s CEO Weekly Update. Thank you to Brooke Graham, project director, and Nicole Bolden, patient liaison, co-chairs of the HMTW DEI Committee, and Wes Hamilton, Sr. Communications Specialist, for sharing this enlightening profile.
While many African Americans served as nurses before her, Mary Eliza Mahoney (1845-1926) often carries the distinction of the first Black nurse in U.S. history, as she was the first to earn a professional nursing license in the U.S. and the first to graduate from an American nursing school.
Born to freed slaves, she worked as a janitor, cook, washer woman and nurse’s aide over the course of 15 years at the New England Hospital for Women and Children, according to the National Women’s History Museum.
At the age of 33, she entered the hospital’s nursing program and graduated 16 months later. As the first Black professionally licensed nurse in history, she championed increased access to nursing education and fought against discrimination in the profession throughout her career, supporting the creation of the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses (NACGN) in 1908.
Celebrating International Women’s Day
The Asian Heritage, MOMs of Methodist and Women’s Empowerment ERGs present Celebrating & Elevating: Women, Mothers and Your Heritage at Houston Methodist Sugar Land on March 8 from noon to 1 p.m. as part of the recognition of International Women’s Day. During the in-person and Livestream fireside chat, Sue Chiang, a retired teacher and celebrated community leader in the Greater Houston Area, will share how her professional and personal journey as an Asian woman has impacted her life and leadership style. Please contact asianheritage@houstonmethodist.org for more information.
Purim Begins March 6
The festive Jewish holiday of Purim begins Monday night, March 6 and continues through Tuesday, March 7. The festival commemorates the salvation of the Jewish people from oppression and physical harm experienced during the time of the ancient Persian Empire. Read more about Purim.
March Cultural Observances
Several cultural heritage observances and interfaith holidays will be recognized in March:
Greek American Heritage Month
Irish American Heritage Month
Holi (Mar. 11)
St. Patrick’s Day (Mar. 17)
International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (Mar. 21)
Nowruz (Mar. 21)
Ramadan (Mar. 22-April 20)
Incarnation (Mar. 25)
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