Real Deal: Issues of African-American Health

The April 2007 Kaiser Family Foundation fact sheet,' The Health Status of African American Men in the United States', provided this overview: African American men have the lowest life expectancy and highest death rate compared to men and women in other racial/ethnic groups in the United States. Homicide is the leading cause of death for African American men between the ages of 18 and 34, and 4th leading cause of death for African American men between the ages of 18 and 64. African American males also have higher death rates than men from other racial groups for heart disease, HIV/AIDS, and certain cancers, including prostate, lung, and colon. African American men also have higher rates of hospital admissions for diabetes complications, hypertension, and angina.

Established in 2003, the mission of Thapelo Institute, Inc. is to educate the public in general and African Americans in particular on strategies for the implementation of positive health behaviors for the prevention of illness and management of disease. Thapelo conducts an annual health and fitness event targeting African American men which provides free, comprehensive health screenings to over 250 men annually. During its 2010 event a candidate conversation about their root causes and challenges facing African Americans covered issues such as the role trans-generational trauma, the social determinants of health, the importance of social fabric, the importance of community and economic development, and the role of spirituality and the Black church.