Black History Month AAPHD EDI Committee 2026 Recommended Reading and Listening

During Black History Month, we are reminded that African American history is U.S. history and that efforts to erase, minimize, or distort Black history persist. This year, we also pause to honor the life and legacy of Reverend Jesse Jackson, who passed away on February 17, 2026. Reverend Jackson’s decades of leadership in the Civil Rights Movement, his advocacy for voting rights, economic justice, and healthcare equity, and his unwavering insistence that marginalized communities deserve both voice and power continue to shape the landscape of public health and policy today. His work reminds us that equity is not abstract; it is built through organized action, moral courage, and collective responsibility.

Because meaningful antiracist action requires a strong foundation of historical knowledge, the AAPHD EDI Committee maintains a curated resource list featuring Black authors and scholarship to help Dental Public Health professionals deepen their understanding and strengthen their work. This year, we’re excited to spotlight new recommendations beyond our 2024 feature—highlighting committee members’ favorite books and podcasts along with why they’ve been so influential in shaping our thinking, practice, and commitment to health equity.

Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi

“This is a gorgeously written novel that traces 250 years of history in the U.S. and Ghana through the eyes of complex, fascinating, and interconnected characters. The author, Yaa Gyasi, developed the novel while she was a student at the Iowa Writer’s Workshop in my hometown of Iowa City, IA.”

- Julie Reynolds, DDS, MS

Weathering by Dr. Arline T. Geronimo

"In Weathering, Dr. Arline Geronimus offers a rigorously researched and deeply illuminating examination of how systemic inequality becomes biologically embedded. This is essential reading for anyone committed to advancing health equity and informed public policy. It is a transformative read."

- Sabrina M. Porcher-Fennell, DDS, MPH

Black Man in a White Coat: A Doctor’s Reflections on Race and Medicine by Damon Tweedy, MD

Dr. Damon Tweedy puts into words what many of us see in public health every day; how racism and bias show up in healthcare systems, clinical decision-making (even among the most well-intentioned clinicians), and patient trust in ways that directly shape outcomes. It’s an honest, deeply human read that will challenge you, but also grounds you.”

- McAllister Castelaz, DMD, MS

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

“For Black History Month, I am suggesting the book 'The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks' by Rebecca Skloot (2010). It tells the heart-breaking story of Henrietta Lacks, a poor African-American woman with cervical cancer being treated at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore in the 1950's. Her cancer cells were taken without her consent and provided an 'immortal' human cell line (HeLa) that has been used ever since for medical research, scientific discovery, and profit. I was profoundly moved by her story and legacy. The issues of systemic racism, consent, accountability, and commercial profit are exposed.”

- Nadia Laniado, DDS, MPH, MS

Dialogues in Afrolatinidad

“This podcast explores history, culture, and contemporary issues in Afro-Latin America and U.S.-Afro-Latinx communities. The podcast features interviews with scholars, writers, educators, artists, and community leaders who share their passion for Afro-Latin American and Afro-Latinx Studies, the significance of their intellectual, creative, or community engagement, and resources for learning more.”

- Sofia Iribarren, DDS, MS