Friends,

This month, we celebrate the rich heritage and incredible impact of Black history.

For too long, Black contributions to our society have been overshadowed, undercut, and deliberately ignored in our history books. In order to truly understand American history, it’s incumbent upon us to unearth, uplift and appreciate Black history.

There are countless examples, but one story struck me as especially relevant for this year.

The science of vaccinations was introduced to America by an enslaved African named Onesimus. Onesimus shared his knowledge of the traditional African practice of inoculation -- that by introducing a small dose of smallpox to a healthy person, you could immunize them. This knowledge led to the first American experiments in vaccinations and was used to vaccinate American troops during the Revolutionary War.

Since our country’s earliest years, African-Americans have led the way forward -- even as our society conspired to hold them back in every way imaginable.

Black history is American history. I hope you’ll join me this month in taking the initiative to learn these important stories and develop a fuller picture of our country’s past. If you’d like to get started now, here are 10 little-known facts from Black history.

Sincerely,

Haley Stevens