At Black Then, we frequently see interesting photos that give us a glimpse into the past. They tend to show us a piece of black history that is often not covered in textbooks, in history classes, or shown in the media.

In a photo that we found we see this great image called ‘The Helping Hands’. The photo is a group portrait of attendees at the first convention of the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses, in Boston, Massachusetts in 1909. The National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses (NACGN) battled on all fronts. In 1909, the organization set out to destroy the practice of having separate state boards of nursing. One member, Ludie A. Andrews, instituted legal proceedings against the state of Georgia and fought for the next ten years for the right to sit for the same professional licensing examination as her white peers.

For more on African American experience and achievements, visit Discover Black Heritage, a travel guide to black history and culture.

Found at National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses