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Celebrating Black History Month

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On this 95th Black history month, we look to share stories to enrich our knowledge and unite us to engage changes for a brighter healthier future.

Onesimus Bostonian, an enslaved African-born man living in the early 1700s, developed a vaccination process that prevented the deadly smallpox virus. Onesimus discovered the method for this inoculation and then informed a Boston Doctor who used the vaccine which saved hundreds and eventually thousands of lives. Today smallpox has been eradicated thanks to Onesimus’ discovery.

 

Black and Brown people have always been at the forefront of science. Although, we have heard the awful stories of how Black and Brown people have been used by science in terrible ways that has led to widespread distrust about vaccinations, we rarely hear the stories about Black and Brown leaders in this science.

 

For more about Onesimus and his discovery, refer to:

 

“How an African Slave in Boston Helped Save Generations from Smallpox | HISTORY” https://www.history.com/.amp/news/smallpox-vaccine-onesimus-slave-cotton-mather