Race Matters In Life and Death

RACE MATTERS IN LIFE AND DEATH WHERE WE LIVE AND HOW WE LOOK PREDICTS LIFE EXPECTANCY

By Charleta B. Tavares

June marks the beginning of what could be a very hot and tumultuous summer. June is also designated as Alzheimer and Brain Awareness; Cataract Awareness; Indigenous History; LGBTQ+ Pride; Men’s Health; PTSD Awareness and National Safety Month. Let us concentrate on three of these designated months: Men’s Health, PTSD Awareness and National Safety Months for this article, which is dedicated to the African diaspora in Columbus and Dayton, Ohio. Our attempt is to address the events over the last week, as well as the four hundred year history of our people in America that has contributed to the pain, anger and frustration of the protesters and others.

First, I want to acknowledge and recognize the strong and indisputable declarations and resolutions adopted by the Franklin County Commissioners and Franklin County Public Health followed by the Columbus Mayor, City Council and Columbus Public Health, to address “racism” as a public health crisis. The declarations show commitment and resoluteness to address a systemic plague that has/is hurting and killing the financial, physical and mental health of people of African descent for generations in this community and communities all across America.

Why are we recognizing Men’s Health and specifically African/Black men?

George Floyd’s dying declaration “I can’t breathe” has been the haunting and consistent last words of so many of our brothers and sisters who have died at the hands of police in America. Say their names from Tamir Rice, 12 years old in Cleveland, Ohio to Gregory Gunn, 58 years old in Montgomery, Alabama and throughout America there have been more than 83 documented public cases of African/Black men and boys who have died at the hands of police over the last few years. African American/Black men and boys are at a greater risk of dying at the hands of police than their Caucasian counterparts…in some cities and states at more than 12 times (Reno, Nevada) the rate.

Why are we recognizing PTSD or for African/Black Americans – Post Traumatic Slave Disorder/Syndrome?

Over the centuries (more than four hundred years), people of African descent have been victimized, traumatized and terrorized because of the color of their skin. There have been moments throughout our history whether spoken or not of “I can’t breathe”. We have been hung, choked, shot, beaten and maced because of who we are and how we look. We are in an inescapable body of melanin that is seen as a weapon or as was so eloquently stated by Jay Starr, ”When your complexion (or the color of your skin) is seen as a weapon you will never be seen as unarmed ” in the eyes of police, racists and those who think of you as “less than” them.

Studies have documented the changes in DNA over the course of centuries of trauma and victimization of people of African descent. “It is a condition that exists as a consequence of multigenerational oppression of Africans and their descendants resulting from centuries of chattel slavery. A form of slavery, which was predicated on the belief that African Americans were inherently/ genetically inferior to whites. This was then followed by institutionalized racism, which continues to perpetuate injury”.

The persistent trauma, brutal deaths and disproportionate disease, illness, treatment outcomes and death among African/Black Americans has followed our path since arrival in America. Whether we are talking about diabetes, HIV/Aids, Cardiovascular disease or COVID-19…we are dying prematurely and in many cases unnecessarily. Our efforts must be stanch to ensure that equitable services, resources, culturally appropriate practitioners and healthcare providers/ systems are in place if we are going to address the disparities and inequities in health outcomes for African/Black residents in Columbus, Dayton and America.

Why is national safety month important?

We must collectively address the health and safety of our African/Black communities… whether we are testing for COVID-19, lead, radon or carbon monoxide, we have to ensure that appropriate resources, testing, tracking and treatment comes to our communities in an equitable way. We are not suggesting equal…equitable means based on the need and disparate burden of disease, illness, death etc. and the needed resources to ameliorate the disparate outcomes. Safety means – clean air, water and healthy fresh food. Safety for our communities from violence, toxins, viruses and diseases are paramount if we are going to eliminate the premature and preventable deaths within African/Black communities in Ohio and across the country.

Are there efforts underway to Address Disparities among African/Black Ohioans with COVID-19 and other Health Disparities?

The state of Ohio not unlike the majority of states across the country have seen disparities in the rates of COVID-19 confirmed cases, hospitalizations and deaths among racial and ethnic populations especially, African/ Black residents. In many cases, testing was not being conducted in communities of color and patients were not prioritized. Even those who presented as symptomatic (showing signs of COVID-19), were many times told to “go home and shelter in place, take your temperature, stay isolated from others, wash your hands and wear a mask”. Unfortunately, there was little or no follow-up with them to see if the patient had the necessary “personal protective equipment (PPE) to safely shelter in place.

On April 20, 2020, Governor Mike DeWine created the Minority Health Strike Force (MHSF) made up of community, state agency, faith and business leaders to investigate COVID-19 infection and health disparities among racial and ethnic populations. Communities of color, particularly the African/Black community, are disproportionately affected by COVID-19 and the illness it causes. The MHSF has issued an interim report to identify strategies to specifically tackle COVID-19 inequities.