‘Responsibility’ one of key health issues for black men

Serghino René

Juan Williams has made a living paying attention to details. As a writer for The Washington Post, he had the chance to interview Nelson Mandela shortly after he was released from prison in South Africa.

Williams watched Mandela’s mannerisms as he talked and even as he ate. He noticed that Mandela carefully peeled the skin off his chicken. A simple thing, Williams explained, but Mandela was doing something that most black men do not. He was aware of his health and in control of what he put in his body.

“You don’t know what’s in store for you in the future,” said Williams. “You need to be physically prepared to grasp your potential and future possibilities.”

Williams was in Boston last weekend to host the 6th Annual Men’s Health Summit held at the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center. Williams has become a celebrity of sorts. He is the author of two critically acclaimed books: “Thurgood Marshall: American Revolutionary” and “Eyes on the Prize: Americas Civil Rights Years, 1954-1965.” As host of the Emmy-winning “Talk of the Nation” program on National Public Radio and frequent political commentator on Fox News Channel, Williams is well aware of the issues that are on the front burner of the national media.

Unfortunately, Williams said, health care for African American males is not one of them.

“Men’s health and men’s mental health get very little attention,” says Williams. “But it’s the personal responsibility of the man to be healthy…”

When it comes to health, black men can be their own worst enemy. Recent studies have shown that the rate of death among black males is higher than their white counterparts — and has been for years. The life expectancy of black males is seven years less than white men, seven and a half years less than black women and 12 years less than white women.

Health Summit Chairman Joseph Feaste is a prostate cancer survivor and says black men’s health is a personal responsibility. Many of the health problems confronting black men are preventable and they must have the foresight to reduce their risk or prevent the problem from occurring.

“The health of a community demonstrates the vibrancy of a community,” says Feaster. “If you are not in control of your health, it will catch up to you. You must educate yourself.”

Twenty-five year old Stephen Michlow of Roxbury came to the summit because he had nothing else to do that rainy day, but he left with a better understanding of a healthy lifestyle.

“I learned that there is no substitute for a good diet and exercise,” he said. “Cancer [and] lung cancer are killing us a dime a dozen and they are all preventable.”

The summit featured over 40 vendors handing out information on issues such as mental health, prostate cancer and diabetes. There were free prostate cancer and cardiovascular screenings conducted by Dana Farber and city health officials. Various workshops were open to participants as well, including “Young Men of Color/Violence” and “Re-entry/Mental Health,” which drew the largest crowds.

In addition, the Healthy Champions Awards were presented to Whittier Health Center nurse practitioner Rick Ahern; president of Triad Veteran and CORI Reform Champion Haywood Fennell Sr.; executive director of the Black Ministerial Alliance Harold Sparrow; WILD 1090 radio talk show host Jimmy Myers; director of Men’s Health Partnership Dr. Phil Wood; Global Ministries crime advocate Rev. Bruce Wall and director of programming for the Unitarian Universalist Church Sam Williams.