today in Black history - feb 24

Dr. Alvin V. Blount Jr., the first African American MASH surgeon, was born on February 24, 1922

You may be familiar with the book, movie, or TV show M*A*S*H. What you may not be familiar with is that there could have been a central character who was Black, if not for a misrepresentation of history by the sitcom’s creator who attempted “to maintain historical accuracy based upon the long-held view that no black surgeons served during the Korean War.”* If the TV series had actually been historically accurate, there would have been a character based on the real life Dr. Alvin Blount Jr. You can learn more about Dr. Blount’s life and work here. You can also check out the student health center at his alma mater that is named for him.

*Wilson, K. L., DeBeatham, W. L., Danner, O. K., Matthew, L. R., Bacon, L. N., & Weaver, W. L. (2012). The forgotten MASH surgeon: the story of Alvin Vincent Blount Jr, MD. Journal of the National Medical Association, 104(3-4), 221–223. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0027-9684(15)30152-8