Black History Month With Hero!

Join Hero this month in celebrating Black History Month! Black History Month is not just a time to celebrate Black Americans who have paved the way for us all to thrive, it is also a time to consider how we can create more justice in our daily lives.

National African American History Month in February celebrates the contributions that African Americans have made to American history. In their struggles for freedom and equality, this month helps deepen our understanding of our Nation’s history.

This month we will be focusing on our Color the Registry Initiative. This Initiative seeks to diversify the bone marrow registry in hopes that all patients will have a chance at finding a match. Hero also seeks to educate communities about blood cancer and the need for donors. 

Many African Americans have developed a mistrust in the medical field. Many are reluctant to join the bone marrow registry, especially considering past experiences like the Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment and the injustices of Henrietta Lacks.

To ease worries and deconstruct myths, Hero make a point to inform each individual who attends our educational sessions, and bone marrow registry drives of the following facts: 

• The two methods of donating are safe, outpatient procedures. 
• There are procedures in place to keep your personal information private and confidential.
• We will never sell your data.
• Your personal information will only be used in an attempt to locate you if you are identified as a match.

 On February 23rd, at 6:00 pm we will be hosting a virtual Color the Registry Diversity and Inclusion Information Session.

This event is in partnership with the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity of Harford County. Opel Jones, a member of the Fraternity, as well as a member of Hero’s board and blood cancer survivor, Geneau Thames will be speaking at the event. Don’t miss out! If you would like to attend, please RSVP to charis.taylor@theregoesmyhero.org as soon as possible.

During Black History Month, let us pause and reflect on our own biases, stereotypes, gaps in knowledge, and relationships across racial differences. We can all be HEROES!

If you have any questions or would like to chat about Black History Month, interested in our Color the Registry Initiative and want to learn how to help out or volunteer, please contact us at 443.226.8881, or email us at charis.taylor@theregoesmyhero.org.