Rochester Regional Health celebrated Black History month on Wednesday with a special program called Black Excellence: Past, Present, Future.
The event, held in the TWIG Auditorium at Rochester General Hospital, featured performances from Antioch Missionary Baptist Church’s youth choir and a keynote address by religion and spiritual expert Teddy Reeves.
Reeves is a native Rochesterian who is currently a curator at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington DC.
In his 45-minute presentation, Reeves spoke to room of medical professionals about the roles African Americans played in building and sustaining America’s labor and medical forces.
“The demand, the protest, the fight of people of African descent in this country, is to be seen as human,” Reeves said. “To see how this system was built on our backs, and that our labor contributed to the thriving of this nation.”
Reeves also underscored the importance of African Americans prioritizing rest as a reward for their labor, and as a holistic remedy towards health and wellness.
“We deserve to rest our minds, rest our bodies, recenter our spirits, and ground ourselves for the work ahead,” he said. “For me, it is imperative that we take this time, that we self-reflect around our journeys, and not overwork and not overproduce.”
Lonie Haynes, Rochester Regional’s chief diversity, health equity, inclusion and justice officer, said given the current political climate surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion, Reeves’ “sermon” was timely.
“There are things that impact our health, psychologically, socially, physically and mentally,” Haynes said. “So, hearing that (message) was important, and how to navigate that space.”
Reeves also believes that the success of our nation requires everyone working together and acknowledging the value of each race’s contribution.
“Our (African Americans) labor has never been solely about us,” Reeve said. “It’s about the betterment of this country.”
