Submitted by Steven L. Pate
There exist a longstanding literature that focuses on the plight of the African American in the United States. Mortality data for the United States reveal that compared to the white population, African American/blacks have an elevated death rate for 8 of the 10 leading cause of death. Especially disconcerting is evidence revealing that black-white disparities in health have not narrowed over time. For example, age adjusted all-cause mortality for African American was one and a half times as high as that of whites in 1998, identical to what was in 1950. Racial residential segregation is a fundamental cause of racial disparities in heath. At the core of the black male crisis is our failure to assume total resposibiliy for the destiny of our children, our future. By any mean necessary, Black adults must teach children to take hold of their lives. While we should continue to acknowledge the debilitating effects of racism, we cannot afford to live as victims. We must forge a world of self-determination paralellell to that of society's racism, an evil that is not disappearing any time soon
Steve, you made some very interesting points pertaining to the African American/black male. I had no idea that the ratio is so high but what else is the causes? Places where people live can be a high cause of health problems for sure, but what specifically? People in wealthy areas can also die at young ages cause of outside factors. I agree that people should prepare their children, "future" for their upcoming lives but why especially the demograpgh you talked about, many other races have children and there doing ok. Im just wondering why a spotlight needs to be put on anyone of race, but instead of people from that age group as a whole; just a thought..
ReplyDeleteSteven, you made some pretty interesting point and used quantitative data to help prove your point. With that being said I wish there was some time of graphics or video to back up what you are saying so that I as well as other readers may see more in depth what you are talking about. Maybe a pie or bar chart would have sufficed or a link to a site that shows these findings that you speak of! draw me in help me understand and show me you know what you are talking about and make me believe what you are saying...with out a little quality all I see is just text.
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