Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in U.S. history.
In 1926, Carter G. Woodson, the “father of Black history,” launched Negro History Week in the second week of February, coinciding with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. The week eventually evolved into Black History Month, thanks in part to the Civil Rights Movement and growing awareness of Black identity.
In 1976, President Gerald Ford officially recognized Black History Month, calling for people to honor the accomplishments of Black Americans.
This year’s theme for the month is African Americans and the Arts. African American artists have used art to preserve history and encourage empowerment.
At Kettering Health, we honor those who have impacted the world that we live in today.
We encourage you to celebrate the history of African Americans and the arts throughout February. Check out some of the events happening in the community below!
Community events
Love Black is an evening celebrating the beauty, creativity, and authenticity of Black culture, brought to you by Art Noire. This event is free to the public.
A market evening of love celebrating black culture: The Distinguished Men of Dayton present “History in Motion.” They teach dances like Chicago Stepping, Urban Ballroom, and Line Dancing. Attend to learn the steps or just watch the dancers. This event is free to the public.
Black History Mausoleum Tour: Attend a special tribute to the lives of many individuals resting peacefully in the mausoleum as the tour guide tells stories of George C. Cooper, James Parsons, W. S. McIntosh, Bob and Norma Ross, and many others. This event is free to the public.
In Modern Moves: Dayton Contemporary Dance Company presents two works by Talley Beatty bridging Reconstruction to the culmination of the Great Migration.
Motown with Dayton Contemporary Dance Company and The Deron Bell Band: Attend a 75-minute performance that pays homage to the R&B, soul, jazz, and funk-inspired Motown Sound at the Arbogast Performing Arts Center.
Employee highlights
In honor of Black History Month, we’re shining a spotlight on two employees: Cheana Hickman and Julius Barnes.
Meet Cheana Hickman
Born and raised in Dayton, Cheana Hickman attended Centerville High School and Ohio State University. She’s been with Kettering Health for over a decade and serves as manager of Noninvasive Cardiology at Kettering Health Main Campus.
Kettering Health has received the award for the top cardiovascular hospital four years in a row. Cheana is extremely proud of being a part of the Noninvasive Cardiology team that played an integral role in achieving the award.
Because of her volunteer work with the American Heart Association, she was led to pursue a career with the Heart & Vascular service line at Kettering Health. The preventative health programs and the physician presence in the community aligned with her journey with cardiac care and her desire to expand her knowledge of heart health.
Cheana’s family member recently had surgery at KH Main Campus and said that the employees and physicians were phenomenal. She is grateful to be a part of Kettering Health every day and is inspired by the care we provide.
The most important lesson she’s learned in her career is maintaining a healthy work-life balance, which is imperative for your overall well-being.
Cheana said the advice she would give others regarding their career is to “work with integrity, even when you think that no one is watching.”
Thank you, Cheana, for your service to Kettering Health!
Meet Julius Barnes
Julius Barnes is a Culinary Associate II at KH Main Campus. He feels blessed to have been a part of the Kettering Health family for seven years.
His greatest accomplishment has been the ability to serve in a spirit of excellence and have the freedom to share faith-based values. The prayer tree in the KH Main campus Cafe was a vision he saw and is now a reality. Julius sent out encouraging emails and then they gathered as a department and exchanged Christmas ornaments at a dining place of their choice. He was able to sing and pray for many co-workers.
Julius was drawn to Kettering Health through a job fair, and that onsite interview connected him with the Culinary Services Department. He said what inspires him most about his job is the care and value he has received from his position.
The most important lesson he has learned in his career is self-worth. He said, “No one can put a price on the value of what you bring to the table, whether it be through your time and effort to get the education you have, or the time and effort that have come from the hard knocks of life, which make you better appreciate your journey—where you were and how far you have come.”
Julius said the advice he would give others regarding their career is to “know that the words that come out of your mouth live in your future, so choose your words wisely, for there is power in your words.”
Thank you, Julius, for your service to Kettering Health!
Cultural highlight
The Association for the Study of African American Life and History explores historical issues of importance to people of African descent and race relations in America. In 2024, they’re examining the history of the African American arts.
One example is the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. It was established in 1958 in New York and served as one of the first Black-owned dance companies in the United States. Alvin Ailey wanted to give Black dancers a place where they could dance and avoid discrimination. The company focuses on themes reflecting both general human longings and experiences specific to Black people.
Check out additional resources displaying how Black Americans have impacted visual arts, music, cultural movements, and more here.
Historical figure: Daniel Hale Williams
Daniel Hale Williams founded the first interracial hospital and nursing school in the U.S. in 1891, and two years later, performed the world’s first successful heart surgery. James Cornish was admitted to the hospital with a knife wound in his chest. At that time, open heart surgery was extremely dangerous—but Daniel was not afraid to try. He was able to cut into the chest and repair the severed artery and tear in the sac. Cornish was able to live an additional 20 years because of Hale. Learn more about Williams’ story here.
According to the American Heart Association, heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States and the risk factors are even higher among African Americans. By understanding the risks and taking the necessary precautions, Black people can improve their odds of preventing and beating heart disease. See ways to reduce your risk here.
