In 1915, historian Carter G. Woodson co-founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History as a response to the lack of information on the accomplishments of Black people available to the public. In 1926, the group declared the second week of February as "Negro History Week" to recognize the contributions of African Americans to U.S. history.
In 1976, the week-long event officially became Black History Month after U.S. President Gerald Ford extended the recognition as a way to "honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history." Since 1976, every U.S. president has officially designated the month of February as Black History Month.
Throughout February, the Animal Health Corridor has been celebrating Black History Month. While we recognize that working to elevate inclusivity and build diverse representation in our industry is a year-round endeavor, we are proud to shine an extra light on those doing the actual work to effect real change during this month.
We have featured change-makers like Dr. Vernard Hodges and Dr. Terrence Ferguson of Critter Fixer Veterinary Hospital. A 7,000-plus square foot state-of-the-art facility in Bonaire, Georgia.
Critter Fixers provides exceptional care to patients and pet parents and drives awareness of diversity in animal health—teaching children and students everywhere that Black veterinarians belong in the industry.
The Animal Health Corridor also celebrated Black History Month by sharing stories about Black pioneers in veterinary medicine and promoting key partnerships like Hill’s Pet Nutrition and Negro Leagues Baseball Museum; which are partnering up to develop educational tools and resources for local schools.
These efforts go beyond February. They certainly extend beyond sharing stories of trailblazers past and present. To truly impact change - we know you must be willing to act.
That's why the Corridor and our Diversity, Equity & Inclusion task force are proud to support MANRRS - a nonprofit organization founded 37 years ago to promote academic and professional advancement by empowering minorities in agriculture, natural resources, and related sciences.
The Animal Health Corridor has a strong focus on helping change perceptions of agricultural careers and encourages greater inclusion of minority-represented populations to build a more prosperous, creative, and innovative industry. While we don't have all the answers, supporting organizations like MANRRS is a vital step forward in raising awareness for continued intentional work and progress. Together, we will continue to take steps toward ensuring that diverse populations can find a home and thrive in our industry.