New exhibit explores disparities, inequities in Black health care

At the Black History Museum and Cultural Center on Saturday, exhibit curator Elvatrice Parker Belsches opened her presentation by introducing the audience to Doctor Peter Hawkins, the city of Richmond’s official tooth drawer in the late 1700’s. It was said that Hawkins navigated his practice by horse all around Richmond, extracting teeth using a tooth pulling pelican. Belsches shared a story from Samuel Mordecai’s 1856 book “Richmond in By-Gone Days,” where Mordecai writes about Hawkins extracting his tooth without even dismounting his horse, and his wrist being so strong that often a good tooth would come out with the bad. “Those were tough days,” Belsches said. “A Prescription for Change” highlights the important yet often overlooked contributions of Black professionals in health fields. The exhibit is open now through March 15, 2025. Courtesy of Black History Museum and Cultural Center Her latest exhibit at the Black History Museum and Cultural Center, “A Prescription for Change,” takes audiences through a journey from the 1700s to the present across eight areas that highlight the Black experience in medical professions in Virginia. People are also reading… “It’s very important that this knowledge is illuminated because they serve as a springboard to increasing the...