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OPINION: Black Women Health Imperative
‘I
can’t breathe’ is a term that is notoriously recognized as the final,
helpless declaration made before the tragic deaths of Black men at the hands of
law enforcement officials. From Eric Garner to George Floyd, we have watched,
in horror, a flawed justice system built on mistrust and deeply-rooted racism
fail Black men; both during the incidents leading to their untimely deaths, and
then again during judicial proceedings that let their killers go free. Our
sisters have not gone unscathed. The deaths of Sandra Bland, Breonna Taylor,
Atatiana Jefferson, and many others have left us with more questions than
answers.
Systemic
racism is a public health crisis that tears at our nation’s fabric, limiting
white America’s ability to see black men as something other than a threat. We
are still fighting a global pandemic that sees Black men and women of color two
to three times more likely to be diagnosed with or to die from COVID-19. And,
while we live in one of the most technologically and medically advanced nations
in the world, Black women are four times more likely than white women during
childbirth. School-aged girls in low-income communities miss two to three days
of school each month because they don’t have menstrual products.
The
inequitable treatment of Black men and women by law enforcement and within the
healthcare system is no coincidence, it stems from 400 years of devaluing Black
life in this country.
And
that truth is enough to take a Black woman’s breath away.
Over the past week, the Black Women’s Health Imperative (BWHI) has stood in solidarity with people across the globe who’ve identified lawful ways to sound the alarm about the many injustices that must be addressed through policy changes, cultural sensitivity training, and simple acknowledgment of just how real and far reaching these issues are.
We
have been encouraged by the growth of our audience and the interest of many
allies and supporters in our work. Your support fuels our ability to remain in
the fight and we are accountable to you, to the 37-year legacy of our
organization and to the generations to come who will work to achieve optimal
health outcomes for Black women.
BWHI
has also teamed up with the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc. (NBCW),
which has 61 chapters throughout the United States. NCBW
was founded in 1981 in New York City and is a 38 year old advocacy organization
whose vision is that black women and girls will live in a world where socio-
economic inequity does not exist. This partnership is a perfect union as the
local chapters worked to launch the new initiative called, Our Health, Our Community. Together, our organizations will
mobilize, support, and advocate for Black women and their families to drive
post-pandemic solutions that contribute to healthy and resilient Black women and
their communities. Through webinars, policy recommendations and a practical
guide, BWHI and NCBW hope to raise awareness around the roots of health
disparities and provide access to information and resources that promote
healthy behaviors and safe environments for them. Our first webinar, hosted by
political commentator Angela Rye, will be Tuesday, June 23, 2020 at 7:00pm EST.
There
is power in breath. It is central to many spiritual and mindfulness practices
as a life source vital for centering and healing.
We
will continue to work with our valued partners and stakeholders to address the
most pressing health issues impacting our nation’s 22 million black women and
girls. We work hard every day to ensure that Black women can breathe easier.
We
invite you to join us.
[Byline]
Linda
Goler Blunt, MPH, President and CEO of Black Women Health Imperative www.bwhi.org
Virginia
W. Harris, MPA, CIA, CGFM, President of the National Coalition of 100 Black
Women
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