When it comes to the well-being of Black Americans, the numbers tell a distressing story. Due to social determinants of health and other inequities caused by systemic racism (and racist systems) in the United States, “Black Americans die at higher rates than white Americans at nearly every age,” The Marshall Project reports. One in five Black deaths—a total of 62,000 in 2019—happened earlier than expected compared to white Americans.
But looking at stats like this doesn’t show the whole picture—and can take away from the humanity of these situations.
"Although data and research give us information on how certain inequities impact communities of color, statistics without any kind of change in real life can make people of color feel as if they are being reduced to numbers and not seen as actual humans who deserve better treatment and quality care to sustain their mental health and livelihood,” says Minaa B., therapist and author of 'Owning Our Struggles: A Path to Healing and Finding Community in a Broken World'. “Real progress happens when we examine data and use it as a guide to create both micro- and macro-level change that helps propel people of color forward."
In honor of Black History Month, we’re spotlighting the headline-dominating statistics that represent the health inequities that Black Americans experience—but we’re not stopping there. We’re sharing the stories of the people and organizations behind the numbers. Get to know the groups and individuals working to change the trajectory of Black well-being in areas including maternal mortality, mental health treatment, cancer survival, and more. It’s often said that we don’t want folks to “become a statistic,” but a number is never just a number.
3 Times More Likely To Die From Pregnancy
How Modern Blk Girl’s Tiffany James Built a Community of Black Women Wealth Builders
9 out of 10 Black Women Will Get Fibroids Before They’re 50,
So Why Are Treatment Options Still So Limited?
Black Women Face Unique Barriers to Breastfeeding—Here’s What I Wish I’d Known
The Major Health Ramifications of Racial ‘Weathering’ on Black People
Period Trauma Is Real and It’s Harming the Health of Millions of Black Menstruators
RUNGRL Is Dedicated To Building a Community That Supports Black Women Runners
Get to know the platform that is providing info via a virtual doula
Black Women Are
Than White Women
40%
Black Women Are
More Likely To Die From Breast Cancer Than Anyone Else
Read how one survivor is changing the odds
Find out what can be done to improve this menopausal burden
10 Years
Black People Spend
in Menopause Compared to
7 for White People
Understand why it’s important to have cultural competency in therapy
Only 2%
of American Psychological Association Members are
Black
Recognizing the differences in
symptoms is step one
11%
of Black People Report Feeling Like 'Everything Is an Effort' Compared to Around
7 Percent
of White People
MORE READING
How Modern Blk Girl’s Tiffany James Built a Community of Black Women Wealth Builders
The Major Health Ramifications of Racial 'Weathering' on Black People
Period Trauma Is Real and It's Harming the Health of Millions of Black Menstruators