As a person whose skin is light, I’ve been hesitant to write an article about the subject of Black History, lest I am perceived as pretending to know more than I do about the subject. Now, with due humility, I’d like to remedy that and acknowledge the importance, give recognition, and thank those black nurses from history, who blazed a trail for us all by standing up for themselves and ennobling our profession. Here is a short list of some of the most notable, professionally trained, licensed black nurse leaders I found:

History proves that celebrity status invites both acclaim and rebuff, especially in the press, which markets stories to survive. As they say, “If it bleeds, it leads.”