For James, a frontline paramedic, Black History Month is more than just a date on the calendar — it’s a call to reflect, learn, and act.
“Black History Month means education and spotlight on the struggles and challenges the Black community has experienced,” he says. “It is a time to reflect, engage and share knowledge, stories and experiences that ultimately lead to equality, inclusion and justice.”
James says that celebrating the month has pushed him to explore the deeper roots of his Caribbean heritage, helping him understand and embrace his identity in a way that connects generations. “It’s helped me embrace my features and cultures that have been passed down through generations while battling ethnocide,” he says.
But for James, this reflection isn’t just personal — it’s professional too. In his work as a paramedic, he draws inspiration from the legacy of the Freedom House Ambulance Service, a pioneering all-Black paramedic crew from Pittsburgh in the 1960s that helped shape the modern emergency medical system.
“Freedom House was a major stepping stone in paramedic advances,” he says. “It reminds me to be a beacon of hope and inclusion within the field. Advocating for not only the Black community but all minority communities, acknowledging the struggles they too have faced.”