One man making a difference at Texas Health Plano
Karl Hamilton, RRT, has been a one-man force for Black history awareness at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano for nine years, encouraging colleagues to learn – one sheet of paper at a time.
His effort, known as “the homework,” is a list on paper of names or events to look up and learn about. He had seven participants the first year, which grew to 325 by 2023. By January of this year, hospital employees were already asking for the homework for Black History Month 2024.
“Karl, in a grassroots kind of way, organically created this Black history force that included everyone,” said Ursula Alexander, M.B.A., BSRC, RRT, cardiopulmonary and neurodiagnostics director at the hospital.
“He’s not only living Our Texas Health Promise, he’s a testament to what true Black history is and sharing our walk so graciously, embracing everyone. And he’s also walking out the mission of DAT [Diversity Action Teams] to provide that inclusiveness to everyone by sharing your story.”
Three facts
Every year, Hamilton creates the homework by listing five to seven relatively unknown Black history figures or events on paper, leaving enough space between each item for handwritten answers. The assignment: List three facts about each one. Research can be done online or however the recipients prefer, but the list has to be turned in on paper.
“Hard copy. No email. That’s not personal,” he said. “People delete emails all day long.”
Hamilton, who has been a respiratory therapist at Texas Health Plano since 2004, holds bachelor’s degrees in biology and history, and a Master of Business Administration.
“I love history, and Black history is very personal to me,” he said. “I’ve always wanted to get more people involved in learning about Black history. They don’t teach it in our schools, and not much in college. It’s been a passion of mine to help people get a better understanding than the things we normally see.”
The assignments might be a mix of people from different areas and times or have a theme, such as only medical figures, women or historic events. He chooses the assignments by combing through his own history books, going to the library or leafing through what’s available at used bookstores.
Not a quiz
Hamilton makes about 400 copies of the homework each year, giving them to co-workers and others he encounters throughout the day. A few patients also have asked for the list over the years.
Alexander said she remembers running across respiratory therapists in break areas poring over the homework, discussing how they had never heard of some of the people or events.
Hamilton is adamant that it isn’t a quiz. “I didn’t want to look things up for them. I wanted people to look things up for themselves. That way, they tend to read more, learn more and maybe go back to it.”
He learns from the answers when the assignments come back. “Everybody brings back different information.”
The historic people or events Hamilton chooses for the homework are vital to know, he said. “They need to be incorporated into our everyday understanding of American history. If we don’t, people have an altered sense of what we’re actually doing here.”
He added, “People want to see themselves in history. Everybody wants to be a part of something.”
Work on this sample of the homework on your own. Remember: Even though you won’t be giving it to Karl Hamilton, you need to write down your answers on paper for better retention.
Please give three facts about the following:
James McCune Smith
Rebecca Lee Crumpler
Daniel Hale Williams
Charles Drew
Jane C. Wright
