Blacks in White: African American Health Professionals

Rarely, if ever, are any of us healed in isolation. Healing is an act of communion.

– bell hooks

This exhibition proactively presents a snapshot of African American and Black health professionals in Baltimore, Maryland, and the Chesapeake region and their many interventions to protect and support Black public health. Blacks in White traces health practitioners’ commitment, innovation, ingenuity, and resistance to medical racism. The narratives presented in the exhibition intentionally trace the continuous and creative efforts of Black community members and health professionals to provide care for and to African Americans.

Blacks in White explores four primary themes that help frame the contributions of African American health professionals in the region, including: a timeline outlining African American access to health, the role of key institutions in supporting public health education for African Americans, exploring the pivotal role of Provident Hospital, and highlighting the contributions of African American community health giants.

NOTE: Purchasing a ticket to view Blacks in White: African American Health Professionals grants visitors access to all current Museum exhibitions.

 

The Reginald F. Lewis Museum is proud to announce the opening of its newest touchpoint satellite gallery exhibition on September 19, 2025 at The Village at Mondawmin!

Blacks In White: African American Health Professionals is a powerful exhibition that highlights the extraordinary contributions of African American health professionals whose dedication, innovation, and service transformed the field of medicine and enriched our communities.

 Location: The Village at Mondawmin, 3201 Tioga Parkway – East Entrance, Baltimore, MD 21215

We invite you to explore the stories, images, and artifacts that shed light on a legacy of excellence in health care that continues to inspire generations. The satellite exhibition is now on view and open to the public. Stop by The Village at Mondawmin and experience this important celebration of history and healing.

Join us as we honor the strength, resilience and brilliance of Black health professionals

Gallery Overview: The Lewis at Mondawmin is a satellite gallery space created to extend the reach, impact, and presence of the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture into the heart of the community. Located inside The Village at Mondawmin—a historic shopping center and civic hub for West Baltimore—this new exhibit space offers an accessible, community-rooted platform for rotating exhibitions and  interactive displays that celebrate Maryland’s rich African American history and culture. 
Exhibit Overview: Blacks In White highlights the vital contributions of Black healthcare professionals and institutions in Maryland, with a focus on West Baltimore. Spanning the late 19th and 20th centuries, the exhibit features pioneering institutions such as Provident Hospital, the Helene Fuld Nursing School, and Young’s Pharmacy, as well as the leaders behind them, including Dr. Howard E. Young and Dr. Nellie Louis Young. In the face of systemic and medical racism, these professionals provided essential care, trained future generations of nurses, and built institutions that served communities often denied access to quality healthcare. Emerging from a vibrant, resilient West Baltimore, their legacy reflects the power of community, dedication, and the ongoing pursuit of health equity for all. 

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