The Medical Heritage Library grieves for the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery, all brutally murdered in recent weeks. Systemic racism is a public health issue; our historical collection does not represent black or brown voices well; instead, they are often excluded, muted, ignored, and buried in the records.
The Medical Heritage Library is the creation of elite academic institutions and as such has its foundation in a long tradition of academic complicity with institutionalized racism. We choose to work towards the end of systemic racism in our work and community. We stand in solidarity with those protesting police brutality and the deadly effects of systemic racism.
It can be a challenge to find historical texts related to race within the context of health and medicine in the Medical Heritage Library, and that is why we invite our users to help us identify texts contributing to a greater historical understanding. Send your findings to medicalheritage@gmail.com and we will compile the recommendations and make them available through our website (www.medicalheritage.org).
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