To Be Seen

Focus on Black Men's Health on this Father's Day

As Father’s Day approaches, I am thinking about the Black men —our fathers, sons, brothers, nephews, and cousins. Women are often the primary health care advocates for the men in our lives. We schedule appointments, research symptoms, and encourage our male relatives to take care of themselves.

Ralph Ellison's 1952 classic novel Invisible Man tells the story of a nameless Black man. He is only black and male without individuality. The current social realities facing many Black boys and men continue to validate Ellison’s metaphor today. This invisibility extends into the reality of Black men’s healthcare, but becomes shockingly visible when we look at the statistics.

Below is Kerry James Marshall’s 1980 work A Portrait of the Artist as a Shadow of His Former Self, inspired by Ellison’s Invisible Man.

Black men have worse health and die younger than all ethnic groups except Native Americans in the US. They are more likely to have undiagnosed or undertreated chronic health conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure. The systems meant to promote health often fail Black men, leaving them hypervigilant and reluctant to seek care.

Black men have the highest rate of prostate cancer in the world. They are often diagnosed at later stages with aggressive types. I am blessed that my father’s prostate cancer was diagnosed and treated effectively. He is still going strong at age seventy-six, when the life expectancy for Black men in this country has dropped to sixty-nine years.

Here’s my Dad, me, and my brother Monir sometime in the seventies.

Weathering, the biological wear and tear from racism and discrimination, affects Black men, too. Social factors such as segregated neighborhoods, limited access to quality healthcare, healthy food, and safe spaces for exercise all contribute to poor health outcomes. Violence claims many young Black men, like my brother Monir, and is a scourge in our communities.

HIV/AIDS continues to disproportionately impact Black men, particularly those who are gay or bisexual, representing nearly 40% of new HIV diagnoses despite being just 13% of the population.

Support the Black men you love

Start conversations about health without judgment and nagging. Share information about screening guidelines—annual physicals, blood pressure checks, and early prostate checks. Encourage them to find a healthcare provider who listens and tries to understand. Make it ok to talk about mental health and therapy.

Get healthy together! Provide healthy choices for meals and family gatherings. Create supportive environments for lifestyle changes. Move together, whether it’s pickleball, dancing, or walking. Most importantly, let them know you care about them and their health.

Our health is protected when the Black men in our lives are physically and mentally healthy; we have less to carry and can dedicate more time to our wellness practices. There is a ripple effect because healthier Black men contribute to stronger, more resilient Black families and communities, where Black women can also thrive.

The invisible man in Ellison's novel struggled to be seen as fully human. We must ensure that Black men in our lives are seen, heard, and valued within society and healthcare systems that often overlook them.

This Father's Day, take some time and invest in the health of a Black man that you love. Their lives depend on it.

Odds & Ends

The book I’m recommending this week is Kiese Laymon’s Heavy, a powerful memoir exploring Black masculinity, health, and the weight of survival in America.

I finally got to the theater to see Sinners. This movie has broken the horror genre! I don’t like scary movies, but this film is so much more than that. The history, culture, and performances are truly otherworldly.

And I’m prepping my grill for summer cooking and plan to try my hand at grilled salmon. Delicious and full of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids. What summer recipes are you breaking out this month?