1. Quality of Healthcare in African American Communities

Healthcare insurance is not provided to all that truly need it. Insurance puts a huge damper on the predominantly black areas, which are formerly known as the less fortunate areas. As a human, you are not entitled to healthcare insurance which is very unfortunate and inhumane. While I was watching KTLA’s news channel, it stated this was targeted towards the population of African Americans. They are looked at as making less money and having the bare minimum healthcare because they simply can not afford it. Those of African American descent are considered to be the least insured resulting in a much higher mortality rate than those who are predominantly Caucasian.

2. COVID-19 Affecting African Americans

Since the beginning of the pandemic, African Americans have been targeted by COVID-19. The race with the highest mortality rate were African Americans. Those with underlying health issues were most affected by COVID-19. Obesity, asthma, diabetes with complications, and many other health issues were most affected. Those all have a higher ratio in African Americans than in Caucasians. This goes to show who suffered from COVID-19 the most. I have had over 12 people in my family pass from COVID-19. Healthy and ones with underlying health conditions. This number is significantly accurate to other African American individuals.

3. Incarcerated African Americans Receive the Bare Minimum Healthcare

HIV, AIDS, and cancer are significantly high in prison, and they need proper treatment and attention to be healed for it to possibly be treated. There is a significant jump between those who are African American and those who are Caucasian that are incarcerated. This makes it hard for those of color to seek medical attention. They receive little to no medical attention. With underlying health conditions, this targets the African American population that is incarcerated significantly higher than any other ethnicity. These prisoners have to literally be in dying need to seek the minimum.

4. African Americans Mental Health Being Prescribed Higher Doses

African Americans go through a lot of mental health disorders that are not talked about enough. Caucasians have more access to treat their disorders whether that is with medicine or therapy. African Americans are usually prescribed a medicine they are usually provided with higher doses of anti psychotic medications that usually put them into a severe depression. This can result in involuntary hospitalization marking us with the “51/50” or “crazy” card. By saying this, African Americans feel it is better to treat their own mental health by ignoring it rather than getting help because of the results. Being treated differently affects our mental health and healthcare won’t help.

5. African Men with Cancer Being Overlooked

When my brother was younger, my mom noticed a knot on my brother's neck that was very abnormal. She immediately took him to the hospital for them to look at it and do some type of test or procedure to see what it was. The Doctor did a biopsy and a couple laboratory tests were done. He said he did see some type of lump in the neck area but it was not cancerous. Like a mother’s instinct she was not just to believe what the first Doctor told her. She then took him to another Doctor who was a person of color, and he recognized that it was Leukemia. My mom insisted on keeping him checked and the first Doctor just ran a test and looked past the pain he was enduring.

6. Breast Cancer Screenings Not Being Done Early Enough for African American Women

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of death among women in the ages 40-55. Those rates are mostly those who are African American. My cousin asked her doctor to do a breast cancer screening because she felt something abnormal. They insisted she didn’t get one because she was too young. My cousin was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer about 7 months later. We were told to prepare ourselves for her final days. We searched for the best hospital treatment day after day because they weren’t doing enough. We soon found a hospital that was willing to do treatment on her. She is now 3 years Breast Cancer Free.

7. Pregnant African American Women are Not Heard

My sister went to the hospital due to contractions on December 30, 2018, in the evening. They turned her around and told her that she could not be admitted into the hospital because they were just “Braxton Hicks”. She then left the hospital to go back home and lie down to get some rest like the nurses suggested. Her water broke less than 5 minutes after getting home, and she immediately went into labor. They didn’t run any test, check her, or anything you are supposed to when a woman feels like they are going into labor. They simply overlooked her amount of pain and sent her home when she knew something was wrong.