National Minority Health Month

During April, we mark National Minority Health Month by raising awareness about the health disparities that continue to affect racial and ethnic minorities.

National Minority Health Month began 100 years ago as National Negro Health Week. In April 1915, Dr. Booker T. Washington dispatched a letter to the leading African American newspapers, proposing the observance of “National Negro Health Week.” Health was the key to progress and equity in all other things, he argued: “Without health and long life, all else fails.” He called on local health departments, schools, churches, businesses, professional associations, and the most influential organizations in the African-American community to “pull together” and “unite… in one great National Health Movement.” That observance grew into what is today a month-long initiative to advance health equity across the country, on behalf of all racial and ethnic minorities – National Minority Health Month.

The HHS Office of Minority Health leads observance of National Minority Health month each year, joining its federal, state, tribal and local partners across the country in calling for a renewed commitment to eliminate health disparities and achieve health equity.