Hafeeza Anchrum

This project expands my research on the history of Black nurses and civil rights in Philadelphia (1950-1970) for a book-length monograph. Building on my dissertation, A New Era in the Fight for Nursing Civil Rights: Mercy-Douglass Hospital School of Nursing, this project amplifies and extends my long-term goal of elucidating forces shaping health equity in the United States. Funding from the Consortium for History of Science, Technology, and Medicine will support the conversion of my dissertation into a publishable manuscript and strengthen subsequent grant applications. This study is both timely and highly significant. Contemporary challenges to affirmative action and diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives threaten to undermine the progress achieved by Black nurse activists. An historical examination of their civil rights efforts—both successes and failures—is essential background as we look towards future ways institutions, clinicians and communities can work together to improve our nation’s health.