Dear Community,
This week in Black History Month, we honor two pioneers whose work in pharmacy expanded access to care and representation in healthcare: James McCune Smith and Anna Louise James.
In the 1830s, James McCune Smith operated an apothecary in New York City, becoming the first known African American pharmacist in the United States. Denied admission to American schools due to racial discrimination, he earned his medical degree from the University of Glasgow in 1837, becoming the first African American physician as well. Through his pharmacy and medical practice Dr. Smith provided essential care to "Black" and underserved communities while also using science and statistical analysist data to challenge racist ideologies during his time.
Decades later in 1908, Anna Louise James graduated from the Brooklyn College of Pharmacy, becoming the first Black woman pharmacist in the United States. She went on to co-own and operate James Pharmacy in Old Saybrook, Connecticut for many years building a trusted healthcare presence in her community. Her pharmacy is now recognized as a historic landmark honoring her legacy.
Both pioneers used pharmacy not only as a profession but as a platform for service, equity, and community impact. Their stories remind us that representation in healthcare has long been shaped by individuals who broke barriers so others could follow.
Sincerely,
BSA
P.S. Fun Fact: Joseph Winters patented one of the earliest fire escape ladder systems in the 1870s designing it so ladders could be quickly deployed from buildings and fire trucks. An innovation that helped shape modern fire escape safety used in cities today.
