Black Health:The Countless Epidemics that Plague the Black Community:
The final installment of the Black Health topic focuses on the countless epidemics and how it effects the Black Community.
The 3 Questions
1. Why are Black people statistically at the bottom of so many health issues such as heart disease and prostate cancer?
2. Is our attitude towards our health generally positive or negative and why or why not?
3. What do you feel is the biggest health issue within the Black Community?
FRONT STREET
PSA to all Black folks….We are dying. Black peoples life expectancy is nearly 3 years less than Whites. But why is that? Why are we more likely to get cancer or heart disease or diabetes? I honestly do not understand some of these statistics. When I go to the gym, I see just as many of Us there as I see of any other race. Everyone eats the same things all in all (fast food, soda, snacks etc). So where does the separation come in? The honest answer may be right in front of Us and as simple as this statement…maybe We can’t do the same things as others do. May be We have to do more to ensure We don’t become another negative health number. May be Our lack of knowledge on health contributes to the destruction of the Black Community?
Please write in and response to our 3 poll questions or post some questions that you would like to see asked. These question and more will be addressed during the discussion found on YouTube beginning on x/xx/20xx.
1. Why are Black people statistically at the bottom of so many health issues such as heart disease and prostate cancer?
Generally, I believe the compounding of having less of everything from money to opportunities plays a role in the health outcomes of Black people. We are exposed to environmental racism, which is a result of redlining and breathing in worse toxins. I also feel like our diet choices in these same communities are toxic. So behind the health is the issue of wealth and access and no one has been cut off more than Black people.
2. Is our attitude towards our health generally positive or negative and why or why not?
I think Black people have a positive attitude towards health but don’t let it run or ruin or lives. We are accepting of “bigger boned” people and we don’t overly stress our eating habits barring restrictions due to sickness. Although that could contribute to our health problems, I don’t think our attitude is neagtive.
3. What do you feel is the biggest health issue within the Black Community.
The biggest issue is access. We need access to better everything. Better food, better facilities, better doctors, better health care plans, better everything.
1. Why are Black people statistically at the bottom of so many health issues such as heart disease and prostate cancer?
I believe our position on health has to do with unequal access to healthcare. There are many communities where healthcare professionals aren’t in abundance, and unfortunately in those same communities those professionals don’t always place the same value on our health. I don’t say this to be accusatory of all healthcare professionals, but from lived experiences it seemed as though my doctor’s did not place much if any concern for my wellbeing.
2. Is our attitude towards our health generally positive or negative and why or why not?
I think our attitude towards health is negative. For some reason our communities and families will hide or not talk about ancestral health struggles. Coupling this with traditional foods, we are often primed to repeat the same issues because the younger generations aren’t put in a position to be proactive.
Also, I believe we often take a “macho” approach to mental and physical health, which keeps us from getting routine checkups, and speak up to our physicians about issues. These, in my opinion, create a negative outlook on health.
3. What do you feel is the biggest health issue within the Black Community?
Again, I would say our decision to keep health secrets. Many of these issues are preventable as long as we take the proper precautions. Unfortunately, when we don’t know why aunt or uncle such and such passed away, or what ailments are currently being dealt with, we don’t learn of genetic health issues until it is too late. I would say a solution to this is creating family health logs and pushing for genetic health screening. I believe these would help identify potential health concerns and hopefully break the family cycle.
1. Why are Black people statistically at the bottom of so many health issues such as heart disease and prostate cancer?
Unfortunately, Black people are more likely to live in areas where dietary choices are mostly limited to “inexpensive but not good for you” and “not really affordable but still not great for you”. This coupled with the everyday stresses associated with being black in a country that despises you causes inevitable health issues for the Black community. Stress is the big elephant in the room that manifests itself in any number of ways pertaining to health issues.
2. Is our attitude towards our health generally positive or negative and why or why not?
I think that our attitude towards health is generally positive. Health conversations are usually met with an open mind, at least initially. When you start telling people they need to abandon foods that they love or pointing out that certain habits could lead to health issues, resistance usually starts at that point. So, positive is a negative in this case because that positive attitude that you’re going to be okay regardless of your diet and habits can create a negative health result.
3. What do you feel is the biggest health issue within the Black Community?
I feel that the biggest health issue within the Black Community is the combination of stress and poor diet. Processed foods and added sugars cause inflammation in the gut and brain. A bad diet starves the body of vitamins needed for energy and stable moods, and raises the risk of heart disease and diabetes. Stress makes the body process unhealthy food worse, creating severe health problems. It is a vicious cycle that we are caught up in based on lack of access, and knowledge about healthier living.