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To kick off #BlackHistoryMonth 
— in a year when fascist white supremacy has already reared its ugly head— we lift up
Salaria Kea
a Black nurse born in 1917 Milledgeville, Georgia, who helped fight against the fascist invasion of Spain.
A thread (1/10) #NurseTwitter
— in a year when fascist white supremacy has already reared its ugly head— we lift upSalaria Keaa Black nurse born in 1917 Milledgeville, Georgia, who helped fight against the fascist invasion of Spain.
A thread (1/10) #NurseTwitter
Despite poverty, the loss of her dad, and separation from her mom, young Salaria excelled in school and sports.
When her racist school denied her a place on the soccer team, Salaria fought back and transferred to a school where she could play.
(2/10)
When her racist school denied her a place on the soccer team, Salaria fought back and transferred to a school where she could play.
(2/10)
Salaria brought her strong spirit of resistance to Harlem Hospital Training School where she attended #NursingSchool.
United with her fellow Black nurses, Salaria organized and held collective actions which successfully desegregated the school's dining room.
(3/10)
spirit of resistance to Harlem Hospital Training School where she attended #NursingSchool.United with her fellow Black nurses, Salaria organized and held collective actions which successfully desegregated the school's dining room.
(3/10)
As a nurse at Harlem Hospital, Salaria wrote a report on the need for #SafeStaffing in the maternity ward, where there was only
nurse for a 50-baby nursery.
She faced retribution by management.
(Nurses know: The more things change, the more they stay the same.
)
(4/10)
nurse for a 50-baby nursery.She faced retribution by management.
(Nurses know: The more things change, the more they stay the same.
) (4/10)
Did she let that stop her?
Nope.
Salaria kept organizing. United, health care workers formed a picket line around the hospital and shut
down the maternity ward while a public investigation of what locals had started calling "Death Hospital" proceeded.
(5/10)
Nope.
Salaria kept organizing. United, health care workers formed a picket line around the hospital and shut
down the maternity ward while a public investigation of what locals had started calling "Death Hospital" proceeded.(5/10)
Needless to say, Salaria knew some badass nurses.
Together, they attended educational events and thought deeply about the connections between local and international events.
The rise of fascism in Europe seemed all too familiar to the racism they faced at home.
(6/10)
Together, they attended educational events and thought deeply about the connections between local and international events.
The rise of fascism in Europe seemed all too familiar to the racism they faced at home.
(6/10)
When Italian fascists invaded Ethiopia, Salaria and her crew were ready.
They gathered the first TWO TONS of medical supplies sent from the U.S.
Ethiopia.
Then, they organized resources to set up a 75-bed field hospital for Ethiopians fighting fascism.
(7/10)
They gathered the first TWO TONS of medical supplies sent from the U.S.
Ethiopia.Then, they organized resources to set up a 75-bed field hospital for Ethiopians fighting fascism.
(7/10)
When fascists advanced troops from Ethiopia into Spain, Salaria decided to take her #solidarity a step further.
On March 27, 1937 she sailed from New York to Spain to bring #NursePower to the effort to defeat fascism.
She was the first Black female RN to do so.
(8/10)
On March 27, 1937 she sailed from New York to Spain to bring #NursePower to the effort to defeat fascism.
She was the first Black female RN to do so.
(8/10)
As a member of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade, Salaria helped transform an old palace into a hospital.
There, she treated soldiers from around the world who had joined forces to "make Spain the tomb of fascism."
#PatientsFirst
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(9/10)
There, she treated soldiers from around the world who had joined forces to "make Spain the tomb of fascism."
#PatientsFirst
-->(9/10)
Upon returning home, Salaria raised funds for the ongoing fight in Spain saying:
"Negro men have given up their lives there... Surely Negro people will willingly give of their means to relieve the suffering of a people attacked by the enemy of all racial minorities: fascism."
"Negro men have given up their lives there... Surely Negro people will willingly give of their means to relieve the suffering of a people attacked by the enemy of all racial minorities: fascism."
