Superstar rap artist, producer and fashion guru Kanye West is known across the globe. As an artist he has crushed billboard charts, dating back to older albums like College Dropoutand the Graduation. He has produced hits for many powerhouse artists like Mariah Carey and Little Wayne. If you ever have an extra $1,000 or more to spend, you have a shot to land one of the most coveted shoes on the market, The Yeezys designed by Kanye and made by Adidas.
West is also married to reality television and actress, Kim Kardashian. West who is No stranger to controversies and criticisms, his wife has her on set of critics, steaming from her marriage to West, body implants and demeanor that some say, closely resemble that of African American. Growing up rich and multi racial, many argue she could not possibly understand the struggle of African American woman, therefore should not mimic.
A recent study was done at the University of Berkeley; in which researchers examined the relationship between racial discrimination, and disease among African American women. The study consisting of 208 women, who are middle aged, was done in San Francisco.
Amani Allen, an associate professor of community health sciences, spoke on the correlation between discrimination and diseases, and offers up some suggestions to combat it.
“We need to think about the determinants of health in different ways. They are not just access to care, genetics or even socioeconomic position. We need to look at the socioeconomic position. We need to look at the social conditions of people’s day-to-day lives, and how we might improve those conditions so that every person, regardless of their race, their gender or anything else, has equitable opportunity to live optimally. Unequal treatment is bad for health.
Allen goes to say “We know that African American women suffer disproportionately from chronic disease, and we know a lot about what contributes to these diseases.”
Researchers have deemed Milwaukee, the number one most segregated city in the United States in terms of living areas, and also worse place to raise an African American child. According to Dhs.Wisconsin.Gov, African American women as well as men have higher chances of accumulating life threaten conditions like heart disease and stroke.
With discrimination in housing, heath care, job placements the list goes on, the link between stresses in inequality is evident. Known for their strength, the “old” Kanye said it best it his hit single it all falls down “and she be dealing with some issues that you would not believe.” The alarming fact is, with out proper health care, or time to visit a hospital for anything other than their child’s health if she has one, they may be unaware of any health crisis. Let us comfort our loved ones, and urge them to visit hospitals regularly.
Integral says
Good example of how to link two completely different subjects in order to drive home one important point Unfortunately you also highlight some very serious issues involving the entire Black community, not just Black women. Are researchers trying to say that Black women are the only ones that bare the burden of holding Black communities together at the detriment of their own personal health? If so then what of the men? Are they all out pursuing white women and avoiding their own Psychological downfall catering to their own happiness?
Black people need a new way of thinking instead of misserably failing to fit into the model of an American Dream that wasn’t meant for them.