Black Men’s Wellness Day draws thousands
I should probably credit Bob Marley, the legendary Jamaican musician, with my obsession for checking my skin for moles and dark spots.
He was just 36 when he died of melanoma in 1981. It started as a freckled mole-looking spot under his toenail. He chalked it up to a soccer injury, but it was later diagnosed as a rare aggressive type of skin cancer that is most commonly found in people of color.
As we continue to advocate for women’s health rights, including Black women’s maternal health, we must also remember that the health of Black men consistently ranks among the lowest across demographic groups in the United States. One of the most important solutions is providing greater access to quality care.
Black Men’s Wellness Day, which also occurs in other U.S. cities, is a start.
On Saturday, more than 5,000 Black men were expected at the second annual Black Men’s Wellness Day at the University of Houston. It includes a “Save Black Men’s Lives” 5K Walk, along with free health screenings and more than 100 vendors focused on health, wellness and social services.
“We are literally bringing the clinic to the community,” said Jamail Johnson, executive director of the agency’s Houston office. “I don’t want this to be a conversation after someone dies. This brings the important conversation about our
health to the forefront. I want this to be something not just young men benefit from, but also old men as well. We are hoping to save lives.”
Marley should have never died of skin cancer. Had he been treated early, it could have possibly been cured, but he refused initial treatment because of his Rastafarian beliefs.
Tragically, melanoma is much more deadly in Black men, who may get skin cancer in unexpected places such as fingernails and the bottoms of their feet.
Dismal statistics
His story is significant because we know many men are better at keeping up with the maintenance of their car than with their health. They are 50% less likely to see a doctor than women and nearly 25% less likely to get a checkup, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Unfortunately, the percentages are even higher for Black men, who are 30% more likely to die of heart disease and 60% more likely to die from stroke compared to white men, according to the CDC.
They are also 75% less likely to have health insurance.
Last year, some 20% of the men participating in the Houston event were sent straight to area hospitals from the wellness fair because they had dangerously high blood pressure, cholesterol and other issues and needed immediate care, Johnson said.
According to the CDC, Black men in 2022 had a life expectancy of 69, while the expectancy for white males was 76 years, Black women was 78 years, and white women 81 years.
This year, Johnson said, free peripheral artery disease screenings that measure blood flow will be available in collaboration with Johnson & Johnson. The test can help reduce the risk of amputation since Black men lead the nation in limb amputations.
Hits home
My father lived with prostate cancer for more than 20 years after it was first diagnosed. It was found early, and he had tremendous support, including several doctors in the family and a loving wife who helped him through treatments and doctor appointments.
Everyone should have equal access to quality, bias-free health care so we might live beyond our expectancy. It’s frustrating that this concept is not our reality. Certainly, not a reality for many Black men.
For now, Black Men’s Wellness Day and other community-based efforts are what will help move the conversation about them dying early from disease to thriving long into their golden years.